Seedling ID?

Submitted by Lori S. on Sun, 03/27/2011 - 17:12

These popped up in a pot seeded with Campanula. Does anyone recognize them? They look sort of Saponaria-ish to me, though that's probably wishful thinking. They don't resemble anything else that I'm growing this year. Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Comments

Submitted by Hoy on Mon, 03/28/2011 - 06:27

Do they have milky sap? My first thought was some Euphorbia but they often form an elongated epicotyl.

Submitted by Mark McD on Mon, 03/28/2011 - 11:46

Lis wrote:

Maybe this is way off base, but they remind me of Silene seedlings.

I agree Lis, at first I though it might be Silene armeria, but after checking photos, I decided that I wasn't sure enough to commit to that suggestion.

Submitted by Lori S. on Tue, 03/29/2011 - 19:48

Okay, I nipped off a leaf and there is no milky sap, and no particular odour to the leaves.
There is a suggestion of opposite-leaf arrangement to them (though they both remain rosette-like for now).  

Lis and Mark, you may well be on the right track.  Lesley over at the SRGC site suggested Lychnis so that's 3 votes for Silene/Lychnis...  I was thinking Caryophyllaceae as well (though with hopes of Saponaria for whatever reason.  ???)

Submitted by Barstow on Wed, 03/30/2011 - 04:10

Skulski wrote:

Lis and Mark, you may well be on the right track.  Lesley over at the SRGC site suggested Lychnis so that's 3 votes for Silene/Lychnis...  I was thinking Caryophyllaceae as well (though with hopes of Saponaria for whatever reason.  ???)

Actually, my first thought was Dianthus armeria, then I saw Mark's suggestion of Silene armeria!! Didn't find any pictures though....

Submitted by Mark McD on Wed, 03/30/2011 - 06:24

Stephenb wrote:

Actually, my first thought was Dianthus armeria, then I saw Mark's suggestion of Silene armeria!! Didn't find any pictures though....

I wonder if there is an Armeria dianthus? ;D  Close enough:
http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=686280-1&back_page=%2Fipni%2FeditAdvPlantNameSearch.do%3Ffind_infragenus%3D%26find_isAPNIRecord%3Dtrue%26find_geoUnit%3D%26find_includePublicationAuthors%3Dtrue%26find_addedSince%3D%26find_family%3D%26find_genus%3DArmeria%26find_sortByFamily%3Dtrue%26find_isGCIRecord%3Dtrue%26find_infrafamily%3D%26find_rankToReturn%3Dall%26find_publicationTitle%3D%26find_authorAbbrev%3D%26find_infraspecies%3D%26find_includeBasionymAuthors%3Dtrue%26find_modifiedSince%3D%26find_isIKRecord%3Dtrue%26find_species%3D*%26output_format%3Dnormal

Some images of Silene armeria
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tico_bassie/5149028861/
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Silene_armeria_1.jpg
...scroll down to see more photos of foliage:
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/cgi-bin/ubb/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_to...

The unknown seedling also has a Cheiranthus look about it:
http://www.dkimages.com/discover/Home/Plants/Wild-Flowers/Dicotyledons/B...
http://chestofbooks.com/gardening-horticulture/Hardy-Trees-Shrubs-And-He...

Stephen, I like your new moniker; extreme salad man ;D

Submitted by Lori S. on Wed, 03/30/2011 - 20:26

Well, it certainly does look like the photos of Silene armeria!  I'll try to remember to report back on what it eventually reveals itself to be.
Thanks, everyone, and great sleuthing, Mark!