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Useful Temperate Plants

Silene menziesii

Hook.

Caryophyllaceae


Silene menziesii is quite variable in the extent to which the inflorescence is developed and in its pubescence. This, coupled with the functionally dioecious nature of the species, has spawned a plethora of names, none of which appear to warrant recognition[
270
Title
Flora of N. America
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
].

+ Synonyms

Anotites alsinoides Greene

Anotites bakeri Greene

Anotites costata Greene

Anotites debilis Greene

Anotites diffusa Greene

Anotites discurrens Greene

Anotites dorrii (Kellogg) Greene

Anotites elliptica Greene

Anotites halophila Greene

Anotites jonesii Greene

Anotites latifolia Greene

Anotites macilenta Greene

Anotites menziesii (Hook.) Greene

Anotites nodosa Greene

Anotites picta Greene

Anotites tenerrima Greene

Anotites tereticaulis Greene

Anotites villosula Greene

Anotites viscosa Greene

Silene dorrii Kellogg

Silene stellarioides Nutt.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Silene menziesii is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a slender taproot; it produces several to many, decumbent to erect, branched or unbranched stems usually 5 - 30cm long, occasionally to 70cm[
270
Title
Flora of N. America
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

270
Title
Flora of N. America
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.

Range

Northern and western N. America - Alaska to Northwest Territories and Manitoba, south to California, Arizona and New Mexico

Habitat

Open woodlands and forests, grasslands, gravelly places, river banks, at higher elevations in mountains in the south of its range; at elevations from 200 - 3,000 metres[
270
Title
Flora of N. America
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height0.20 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Species in this genus generally grow well in a sunny position in a well-drained but moisture-retentive fertile soil[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Although the flowers are usually hermaphrodite, they are functionally unisexual[
270
Title
Flora of N. America
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

An infusion of the pounded roots is used as eye drops to treat cataracts[
257
Title
Native American Ethnobotany
Publication
 
Author
Moerman. D.
Publisher
Timber Press. Oregon.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-88192-453-9
Description
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Silene+menziesii>

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