Silene stellata

Silene stellata is a perennial herb occurring in rich deciduous woods, tall-grass prairies, river flats, and on rock outcrops of eastern North America in the United States from Connecticut and Vermont, west to South Dakota, south to Georgia and Texas, and introduced to Ontario, Canada. It is threatened by development, right-of-way maintenance, canopy closure and fire suppression, invasive species, and other threats in some places. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and over 1,900 occurrences, this species is considered secure.

Silene stellata occurs in eastern North America in the United States from Connecticut and Vermont west to South Dakota, and south to Georgia and Texas (Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2024). It was collected in Ontario in 1941, but was likely introduced there (FNA 2005). Range extent was estimated to be 2.4 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).

By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are 1,900 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).

Although threats are not widely documented, Silene stellata is potentially threatened by development, right-of-way maintenance, invasive species, succession, and other threats in some places. In New England, at the northeastern limit of its range, this species is rare and in decline due to canopy closure, fire suppression, and invasive species, among other threats (Native Plant Trust 2024). However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.