Fire Pink
Silene virginica
This native perennial plant is ½–2' tall and more or less erect. It branches at the base, where a tuft of basal leaves occurs, and toward the apex of the hiary stems, where the flowers occur. The basal leaves and lower cauline leaves are up to 6" long and 1" across. They are dark green, oblanceolate, and smooth along the margins. The cauline leaves occur in opposite pairs along the stems; there are usually 2-4 pairs of cauline leaves per stem (rarely more). Each of the upper stems terminates in 1-3 red flowers; these flowers are loosely arranged as a somewhat flattened panicle that is broader than it is tall. Each flower is about ¾–1" long and 1–1½" across, consisting of 5 spreading red petals, a tubular green calyx, 10 stamens, and 3 styles. The petals are rather narrow and notched at their tips; at the base of each petal, there is a pair of small red teeth. The tubular calyx has several ridges along its length and several small teeth along its outer rim. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer and lasts about 1½ months.