Seedling ID?

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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

Trond Hoy

Re: Seedling ID?

Mon, 03/28/2011 - 5:27am

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

Mark McDonough

Re: Seedling ID?

Mon, 03/28/2011 - 10:46am

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.

Lori S. (not verified)

Re: Seedling ID?

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 6:48pm

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. ???)

Stephen Barstow

Re: Seedling ID?

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 3:10am

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....

Mark McDonough

Re: Seedling ID?

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 5:24am

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

Lori S. (not verified)

Re: Seedling ID?

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 7:26pm

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!