About Silene ovata Pursh
Silene ovata, commonly known as the Blue Ridge catchfly or ovate-leaved catchfly, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. This species grows up to 1.5 meters (4 feet 11 inches) tall, and produces numerous white flowers that each have a finely fringed corolla and a tubular calyx. It bears large opposite, sessile leaves that measure 5–12 cm (2.0–4.7 in) long and 2–5 cm (0.79–1.97 in) wide, tapering to a long pointed tip. This species is not found in Florida. It occurs across most of the southeastern United States, ranging from Georgia, where it is present across the state, to eight widely scattered counties in Alabama, and west to Mississippi and Arkansas. In Arkansas, it is only found in eight counties located in the Ozark region. Its range extends north into southern Illinois, southern Indiana, Kentucky, and Virginia. The species has a limited overall distribution, which is reflected in its global G3 conservation status. Different regional floras describe its habitat: a Kentucky flora records it growing in dry to mesic forests, while a North Carolina flora lists its habitat as rich woods.
