# Mediterranean Catchfly (*Silene colorata*)

The Mediterranean Catchfly is a beautiful flower with bright pink petals. It loves sunny places and can often be found in rocky areas. This flower attracts butterflies and bees, making it a special part of nature!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Coastal areas

![Mediterranean Catchfly](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Silene_colorata_Poiret_2.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Antonio, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Silene_colorata_Poiret_2.jpg)

## Appearance

The Mediterranean Catchfly has delicate, star-shaped flowers, often bright pink or purplish-pink with deeply notched petals. Its stems and calyces are notably sticky, sometimes appearing glandular. This stickiness helps it stand out from other small, wild wildflowers.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Caryophyllales
- **Family:** Caryophyllaceae
- **Genus:** Silene

## Interesting facts

- Each petal is so deeply split, it looks like two petals!
- Its sticky stems can trap tiny insects, but it doesn't eat them!
- Its tiny seeds can wait years in soil for the perfect time to grow!
- This tough plant thrives in disturbed soil, like roadsides or old fields!

## Special abilities

- **Sticky Trap:** Mediterranean Catchfly has sticky stems and leaves that can trap tiny insects, possibly deterring herbivores or even capturing nutrients.
- **Sun Seeker:** Mediterranean Catchfly can thrive in full sun and dry conditions, allowing it to colonize sunny, open spaces where other plants struggle.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-40 cm
- **Spread:** 10-20 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring_summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Western Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Attracted to its bright flowers for nectar.
- **Pollinates:** [Painted Lady](https://www.snappit.app/explore/painted-lady) (*Vanessa cardui*) — Visits the flowers for nectar, aiding reproduction.
- **Eaten by:** [Garden Snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Snails and slugs may feed on its leaves.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Carnivorous Plant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous-plant): Carnivorous plants are predatory flowering plants that derive some or most of their nutrients from trapping and consuming animals or protozoans.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult, to keep them safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Mediterranean Catchfly?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Mediterranean Catchfly?

10-40 cm

### How wide does Mediterranean Catchfly spread?

10-20 cm

### How big are the flowers on Mediterranean Catchfly?

1-2 cm

### When does Mediterranean Catchfly bloom?

Spring_summer

### Is Mediterranean Catchfly edible?

No

### Is Mediterranean Catchfly toxic?

None

### What is Mediterranean Catchfly's lifecycle?

Annual

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Mediterranean Catchfly: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mediterranean-catchfly)