TORREYA 



Vol. 28 No. 5 



September-October, 1928 



The Distribution of Silene Wherryi Small 

 Edgar T. Wherry 



Two years ago Dr. John K. SmalU described and named in 

 my honor a new species of Silene which had been observed on 

 limestone rocks in Kentucky, and which was represented in 

 herbaria also from Albertville, Alabama. In a private com- 

 munication Dr. Roland M. Harper subsequently called my 

 attention to the fact that the rock at the latter place is sand- 

 stone rather than limestone, and suggested the desirability of 

 further stud>' of the habitat of the plant. In the Spring of 1928 

 such study pro\'ed possible. Accompanied by Mr. J. E. Bene- 

 dict, Jr., of Washington, D. C, I drove across Alabama, visiting 

 promising localities, and finding several new stations for it. 

 A detailed account of its field relations can accordingly now be 

 put on record. 



Although in previous years confused with S. caroliniana 

 Walter, the new species can be readily differentiated from that, 

 even upon superficial examination in the field. The plants of 

 5. Wherryi average rather larger; the petals are less notched 

 at the tip, and their crown is less conspicuous; the calyx is 

 densely covered with lustrous hairs which are quite free from 

 glands, while in S. caroliniana the hairs are fewer but largely 

 gland-tipped, so that minute insects and dust-particles are often 

 found adhering to them. The two species are apparently quite 

 distinct in geographic range. 



While the flower-color at the Kentucky stations, where the 

 plant first attracted my attention, was bright rose (around 

 Ridgway's No. 71b), all of the Alabama colonies seen showed 

 paler colors, ranging from No. 7 If to white; the original descrip- 

 tion should accordingly be amended to include this color range, 

 especially in that the type locality, AlbertN'ille, yields par- 



iTorreya, 26:65. 1926. 



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