# fire pink

*Silene virginica*

Commonly called 'catchfly' because its sticky calyx and stem trap small insects, preventing them from stealing nectar without pollinating the flower.

- **Taxonomy:** Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Caryophyllales › Caryophyllaceae › Silene
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** forest
- **Habitat:** Open deciduous forests, rocky slopes, and woodland edges.
- **Diet:** Photosynthetic (requires sunlight, water, and soil nutrients).
- **Range:** Eastern United States, Central United States
- **Size:** 20 to 80 centimeters in height
- **Lifespan:** 2-5 years (short-lived perennial)
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Habitat fragmentation, competition from invasive plant species, and over-browsing by deer.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless. Observe the vibrant red flowers from a distance to avoid trampling the delicate root system. Do not pick the flowers, as they are a vital early-season energy source for migrating hummingbirds.

## About

Silene virginica , the fire pink , is a wildflower in the pink family, Caryophyllaceae. It is known for its distinct brilliant red flowers. Each flower is approximately five centimeters in diameter and composed of five notched, brilliant red petals which extend into a long tube. It is a small (20-80 cm tall), short-lived perennial (2-3 years), with lance shaped leaves. Its stems, and the bases of the flowers, are covered in short sticky hairs. Fire pink begins...

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/6c8872b9-961b-4f95-bde8-6ef28dc560dc
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/57291
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silene virginica
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/458871771/medium.jpg (Douglas Goldman, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.