Silene marmorensis
Marble mountain campion, Marble Mountain Campion
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Silene marmorensis (Marble mountain campion) is a native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by . Key features: very restricted KR range, pale pink 2-lobed petals, large black seeds.
Marble mountain campion is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges of Humboldt and Siskiyou counties in oak woodland and conifer forest at elevations of 850 to 1,000 meters. Flowering during summer, this plant produces pale pink flowers with deep-colored lobes on erect stems. Growing 25 to 40 centimeters tall with erect, glandular-puberulent stems, it develops a sparse woody caudex. Its leaves gradually reduce in size from bottom to top, with lower leaves being lanceolate and measuring 2 to 4.5 centimeters long and 5 to 10 millimeters wide. The fruit is an ovoid capsule carried on a short puberulent stalk, containing small black seeds about 2 to 3 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species. Key features: very restricted KR range, pale pink 2-lobed petals, large black seeds.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Oak woodland, conifer forest
Elevation: 850-1000 m
California counties: Siskiyou
Bloom period
Silene marmorensis blooms Summer.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 marmorensis native to California?
Yes. Silene marmorensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Silene marmorensis bloom?
Silene marmorensis blooms Summer.
Where in California does Silene marmorensis grow?
Silene marmorensis occurs in Siskiyou, at elevations of 850-1000 m.
What plant family does Silene marmorensis belong to?
Silene marmorensis is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Silene.
Is Silene marmorensis rare or endangered?
Silene marmorensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.