Silene dichotoma subsp. dichotoma
Forked catchfly, Forked Catchfly
(c) Eleftherios Katsillis, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Eleftherios Katsillis · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Annual · Not Native
Silene dichotoma subsp. dichotoma (Forked catchfly) is a non-native California annual in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by . Key features: non-native, deeply 2-lobed petals (>1/2 limb), weedy habitats.
Forked catchfly is a naturalized annual found in California regions including the northern California Region, San Francisco Bay Area, and southern California coastal areas in fields and roadsides at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering during summer, this plant produces white to red flowers with delicate two-lobed petals 5 to 9 millimeters long. Growing 20 to 80 centimeters tall with erect stems that are generally short and rough-hairy, it has distinctively structured foliage with lower leaves 6 to 8 centimeters long and 15 to 30 millimeters wide, becoming progressively smaller and narrower toward the stem's top. Its leaves are lanceolate to oblanceolate, gradually reduced upward, with upper leaves 2 to 5 centimeters long and 3 to 20 millimeters wide. The fruit is an ovoid seed capsule containing dark brown to black seeds 1 to 1.5 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 22 sympatric species. Key features: non-native, deeply 2-lobed petals (>1/2 limb), weedy habitats.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Fields, roadsides
Elevation: < 1000 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, Saskatchewan eastern North America, native to Europe
Bloom period
Silene dichotoma subsp. dichotoma blooms Summer.
How to tell it apart
vs Spigelia: Silene has 5 separate petals in pink family arrangement; Spigelia has tubular red flowers with 5-lobed tips.; vs Pelargonium: Silene has radially symmetric flowers with 5 equal petals; Pelargonium has bilateral flowers with unequal petals.; vs Cistanthe: Silene has a tubular calyx fused around the flower; Cistanthe has 2 separate, rounded sepals that fall off.; vs Castilleja: Silene has showy petals; Castilleja's color comes from bracts hiding tiny tubular flowers.; vs Petrorhagia: Silene has an inflated, rounded calyx tube; Petrorhagia has a narrow, cylindrical calyx with papery bracts below.
Frequently asked questions
Is Silene dichotoma subsp. dichotoma native to California?
No. Silene dichotoma subsp. dichotoma is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Silene dichotoma subsp. dichotoma bloom?
Silene dichotoma subsp. dichotoma blooms Summer.
What plant family does Silene dichotoma subsp. dichotoma belong to?
Silene dichotoma subsp. dichotoma is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Silene.
What habitat does Silene dichotoma subsp. dichotoma grow in?
Silene dichotoma subsp. dichotoma grows in Fields, roadsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-09
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.