SILE'NE FIMBRIA'TA. 
FRINGE-FLOWERED CATCHFLY. 
Class. Order. 
DECANDRIA. TRIGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
CARYOPHYLLEjE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
Caucasus. 
2 feet. 
June, July. 
Perennial. 
in 1806. 
No. 128. 
Linneus adopted the term Silene, as applicable to 
this family of plants, from the viscid exudation on 
the stems, which frequently entraps small flies and 
other insects. The term is from the Greek si alon, 
saliva. Fimbriata, from the Latin, fringed. 
This is rather a strong plant, and its strikingly 
fringed flowers attract attention, whilst others of 
more curious formation escape observation. It still, 
however, has a somewhat homely appearance, from 
its partial resemblance to others of its tribe, which 
are well known weeds in almost every meadow or 
field of sandy or gravelly districts. This is a little 
drawback on the subject before us. Vulgar or 
worthless alliances have an influence amongst plants 
as amongst men, but it is highly requisite that we 
suffer not our prejudice or caprice to carry away our 
better judgment. If we examine aright, we shall 
find very few subjects in the lower orders of creation 
that merit our contempt, or that justify our wonted 
neglect of them. 
This species of Silene is readily raised from seeds, 
which it freely produces; and they may be sown in 
the borders, where the soil is tolerably light. 
Ilort. Kcw. 2. v. 3, 93. 
