Spalding's catchfly / Center For Plant Conservation
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Plant Profile

Spalding's catchfly (Silene spaldingii)

Silene spaldingii with flowers.

Photo Credit: Maddy Lucas
  • Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
  • Legal Status: Federally Threatened
  • Family: Caryophyllaceae
  • State: BC, ID, MT, OR, WA
  • Nature Serve ID: 132941
  • Lifeform: Forb/herb
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/06/1993
Description:

Spaldings catchfly (Silene spaldingii) is an herbaceous perennial of the intermountain grasslands and sagebrush-steppe of the Pacific Northwest. It is named after Henry Spalding, who first collected it in the mid 1800s near the Clearwater River of Idaho. Like many of its close relatives in the Pink Family, it earns its common name catchfly because all green portions of the plants are covered in dense sticky hairs that ensnare insects and dust. Unfortunately for this catchfly, the deep loamy soils typical of its preferred habitat were also preferred by white settlers for farming, and most of its habitat has been converted for agricultural use and, more recently, for urban development. On October 10, 2001, Spaldings catchfly was listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Spaldings catchfly blooms from mid-July through September an interesting phenomenon when one considers that this is the driest, hottest period of the year when water stress is highest. Another interesting habit of this species is that it can enter prolonged periods of dormancy in which individuals can remain entirely belowground for up to several years (Lesica and Steele 1994; Lesica 1997). Dormancy is thought to be correlated to periods of drought; however, this phenomenon is not well understood and more research is needed to understand what is involved in initiating and breaking dormancy (USFWS 2007). Stems of Spaldings catchfly range in height from 8 to 24 inches and typically bear three to 20 flowers. Each plant typically has one stem growing from a persistent caudex (a thickened base of the stem located just belowground from which new stems arise), although multiple stems may sometimes occur. The cream-colored flowers are not very showy because most of the petal is enclosed within the calyx a green tube formed by the sepals. Each fertilized flower produces a capsule with up to 150 seeds.

Where is Spalding's catchfly (Silene spaldingii) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Spaldings catchfly occurs in bunchgrass or sagebrush dominated communities, in areas with higher soil moisture associated with swales or north to east facing slopes (Hill and Gray 2004). At higher elevations, Spalding's catchfly may occur on south facing slopes. Some populations are also found in open pine forests. Sites range in elevation between 1,380 and 5,300 feet and typically consist of deep loamy soils originating from wind deposits (loess soils), volcanic ash, and glacial deposits (USFWS 2007). Annual rainfall amounts range from 10 inches to 24 inches, with most of the rain occurring during the fall and winter months (Hill and Gray 2004). The prolonged summer drought precludes tree species from establishing, thus maintaining climax grassland communities (Daubenmire 1968). Dominant perennial grasses include Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), Idaho fescue with rough fescue (Festuca scabrella), or Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) codominant (Hill and Gray 2004).

Distribution:

Spaldings catchfly occurs in five physiographic (physical geographic) regions of the intermountain region of the Pacific Northwest: channeled scablands of eastern Washington (a geographic region shape

States & Provinces:

Spalding's catchfly can be found in British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington

Which CPC Partners conserve Spalding's catchfly (Silene spaldingii)?

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

  • 09/29/2020
  • Orthodox Seed Banking

Seeds have been collected and banked from five large populations but none of the smaller populations

  • 09/29/2020
  • Seed Collection

Seeds have been collected and banked from five large populations but none of the smaller populations.

  • 09/29/2020
  • Genetic Research

Genetic studies were completed in the early 1990s to evaluate genetic diversity within and across populations.(Baldwin and Brunsfeld 1995)

  • 09/29/2020
  • Propagation Research

Germination studies have determined that cold stratification promotes germination, suggesting that seeds germinate in spring. Germination rates of 60 to 86 percent have been achieved with 30 days to 8 weeks of cold stratification (USFWS 2007). A seedling recruitment study has shown that seedling survival is very sporadic, and significant recruitment occurs in 3 out of 13 years (USFWS 2007).

  • 09/29/2020
  • Demographic Research

Ongoing studies are evaluating the effects of invasive nonnative plants and prescribed fires (Lesica 1999; Menke 2003; USFWS 2007). Demography studies have been conducted at the Dancing Prairie Preserve and at the Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge in 2003 (USFWS 2007). Effects of prolonged dormancy on fitness of individual plants were studied in Montana (Lesica and Crone 2007).

Nature Serve Biotics
  • 05/02/2017

This regional endemic is restricted to remnants of the prairie grasslands of eastern Washington, northeastern Oregon, northern Idaho, and western Montana (barely extending into British Columbia, Canada). It is currently known from 35-40 extant occurrences in Washington, 12-14 in Oregon, about 10 in Idaho, and 8-9 in Montana. However, the vast majority of these sites have fewer than 50 individual plants, and about 90% of the estimated 11,000 total individuals are concentrated on a single site in Montana. Range-wide, a significant amount of habitat has been lost to conversion to agriculture, restricting most remaining occurrences to small, isolated fragments of native vegetation, where they are vulnerable to degradation. Genetic isolation may also be of concern.

Wendy Gibble
  • 01/01/2010

Threats identified in the 2007 Recovery Plan include: Habitat loss and degradation due to urban and agricultural development and livestock grazing Invasions by aggressive, nonnative plants Changes in fire frequency and timing Livestock grazing an

Wendy Gibble
  • 01/01/2010

There are approximately 24,500 individuals known from 110 occurrences; however, this count is approximate because the prolonged dormancy of this species makes population estimating and monitoring difficult. Of the 99 populations, 35 in the Channeled Scablands, 11 in the Intermontane Valleys, and 17 in the Palouse Grasslands, 14 in the Blue Mountain Basins, 22 in the Canyon Grasslands. Approximately 75 percent of all plants occur within 7 large populations (USFWS 2007).

Wendy Gibble
  • 01/01/2010

Ongoing studies are evaluating the effects of invasive nonnative plants and prescribed fires (Lesica 1999; Menke 2003; USFWS 2007). Demography studies have been conducted at the Dancing Prairie Preserve and at the Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge in 2003 (USFWS 2007). Effects of prolonged dormancy on fitness of individual plants were studied in Montana (Lesica and Crone 2007). Germination studies have determined that cold stratification promotes germination, suggesting that seeds germinate in spring. Germination rates of 60 to 86 percent have been achieved with 30 days to 8 weeks of cold stratification (USFWS 2007). A seedling recruitment study has shown that seedling survival is very sporadic, and significant recruitment occurs in 3 out of 13 years (USFWS 2007). Genetic studies were completed in the early 1990s to evaluate genetic diversity within and across populations.(Baldwin and Brunsfeld 1995)

Wendy Gibble
  • 01/01/2010

Protection and management of key conservation areas - larger tracts with high quality habitat to support at least 500 individuals and sufficient pollinators - forms the foundation of the recovery strategy. Potential key conservation areas are identified in the Recovery Plan for each physiographic region (USFS 2007). Ongoing surveys for new populations and long-term monitoring of known populations on state and federal lands and lands owned by The Nature Conservancy (USFS 2007). Control and monitoring of invasive species and research on the effects of herbicide, fire, and biocontrols on controlling several invasive species including yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), sulfur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), diffuse knapweed (Centaurea disffusa), and spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) (USFS 2007). Management plans have been prepared for several sites and plans for other sites are currently being drafted (USFS 2007). A prescribed burning plan has been developed at The Nature Conservancys Dancing Prairie Preserve in Montana (USFS 2007). Seeds from five large populations have been collected and stored in a seed bank (USFWS 2007). Additional collections are planned in 2008. Land exchanges and acquisitions to preserve tracts of Spaldings catchfly habitat (USFWS 2007).

Wendy Gibble
  • 01/01/2010

The following management needs are identified in the 2007 Recovery Plan: Determine population viabilities for Silene spaldingii populations. Utilize existing key conservation areas and identify new key conservation areas with good habitat where new populations should be developed or where existing populations could be supplemented. Determine the best techniques for creating new populations or supplementing existing populations of Silene spaldingii. Conduct research essential to controlling and managing invasive nonnative plants within Silene spaldingii habitat. Conduct research essential to managing livestock, wildlife, and insect herbivory at Silene spaldingii populations. Conduct research to better determine the effects of fire on Silene spaldingii and identify when and where prescribed fire should occur, particularly outside of Montana.

Wendy Gibble
  • 01/01/2010

Seeds have been collected and banked from five large populations but none of the smaller populations. Future seed collections should focus on all populations not identified as key conservation areas and coordinated so as to capture as much of the genetic variability as possible.

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Nomenclature
Taxon Silene spaldingii
Authority S. Wats.
Family Caryophyllaceae
CPC Number 4009
ITIS 20126
USDA SISP2
Duration Perennial
Common Names Spalding's campion | Spalding's catchfly | Spalding's silene
Associated Scientific Names Silene spaldingii
Distribution Spaldings catchfly occurs in five physiographic (physical geographic) regions of the intermountain region of the Pacific Northwest: channeled scablands of eastern Washington (a geographic region shape
State Rank
State State Rank
British Columbia S1
Idaho S1
Montana S1
Oregon S1
Washington S2
Ecological Relationships

Photos
Newsletters
Pollinators
Common Name Name in Text Association Type Source InteractionID
Bees
Bumble bees Bombus nevadensis Confirmed Pollinator Link
Reintroduction
Lead Institution State Reintroduction Type Year of First Outplanting
University of Montana Montana Reinforcement 2008
University of Montana Montana Reinforcement 2016

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