SILE'NE ACAU'LIS. 
STEMLESS CATCHFLY. 
Class. Order. 
DECANDRIA. TRIGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
CARYOPHYLLE M. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Inhabits 
Britain. 
: » 
If inch. 
June, July. 
Perennial. 
Scot. Alps. 
No. 232. 
Silene, from the Greek sialon, saliva; so named 
from a glutinous fluid which exudes from the stems 
and renders them viscid to the touch. In this, small 
insects are frequently entangled, whence the English 
name, Catchfly. Acaulis, from the Greek word 
kaulos, astern; and the privative a, which being 
placed before words, generally gives them a contrary 
meaning, or negatives their power; hence, the com- 
pounded word acaulis, signifies without a stem, a 
term which agrees with the general appearance of 
the plant, though not literally true. 
This beautiful little English Silene, is found in 
high situations, in Wales and Scotland; and as is 
not uncommon with many alpine plants, will some- 
times be lost, unless requisite attention be paid to its 
cultivation. 
The Silene acaulis may be planted on rock-work, 
in alight loamy soil, mixed with a small portion of 
lime, in an eastern aspect; and here it will gene- 
rally succeed very well. A plant of it may also be 
kept in a pot, and have the shelter of a cold frame, 
during winter; which will secure possession of the 
plant, should it be lost by full exposure. 
Hort. Kew. 2, v. 3, 96. 
