Balkan Catchfly

Growth Habit

Hairless annual or biennial, growing 2+ feet tall from a stout taproot. Plants are somewhat glaucous (covered with a whitish coating, like the surface of a plum).

Leaves

Few leaves occur at the base and they typically wither away by the time plants bloom. Stem leaves are in numerous pairs, attached directly to the main stem without a petiole. Leaves have smooth margins and a pointed tip.

Flowers

Inflorescences are open and branching, with long racemose primary branches. Flower calyx (the sepals as a group), somewhat inflated in flower, is obscurely 20 veined, of which the alternate ones are shorter. Flower petals are white, with upper part of the petal (limb) divided into 2 lobes, to 5 mm. Stamens stick out of the flower (exserted), with dark purple filaments. Stigmas 3, also exserted.

Fruit & Seeds

Calyx is tightly constricted at both ends enveloping an ovoid capsule, opening by 6 recurved, narrow teeth. Seeds are grayish brown and 0.6-1mm.

Habitat

Documented growing in a few places in eastern Washington, including Klickitat, Spokane and Pend Oreille counties. In general plants grow in cultivated fields, roadsides, and other disturbed sites.

Spread Mechanisms

Reproduction

Seed.

Mechanical