A study of Silene antirrhina, Sleepy Catchfly (Caryophyllaceae).

Abstract

This study provides information supplemental to that found in floras on the morphology, phenology, habitat, distribution, and species associations of Silene antirrhina. To my knowledge, no significant research have been completed on this species, particularly on the function of its glutinous zones and on the occurrence of cleistogamy. The most important contribution of my work is in these two areas of its life history. Future research should involve further exploration of cleistogamy which might be combined with genetic studies of variation in cleistogamous versus chasmogamous individuals. The entire life cycle should be monitored to document whether or not cleistogamy develops only later in the season. Plants might also be monitored in timed intervals for pollinators. Other forms and varieties of Silene antirrhiza should be studied. The non-glutinous S. antirrhiza var. Deaneana could be compared to glutinous forms to deduce the function of the glutinous zones. Experimental manipulations of insect population sizes and species and alteration of the number of glutinous zones may also be important for confirming the advantage of glutinous zones. One also might experimentally alter resource availability of individuals to test for resource-based selective fruit abortion. In sum, future studies of Silene antirrhina could make important contributions to the study of plant reproductive ecology, population biology, the ecology of weedy species, and plant-insect interaction studies.