HPIPM:White cockle

Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Magnoliophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Superorder	Caryophyllanae
Order	Caryophyllales
Family	Caryophyllaceae
Subfamily	Caryophylloideae
Tribe	Sileneae
Genus	Silene
Species	Silene latifolia

Scientific Name

Silene latifolia ssp. alba

Scientific Name Synonyms

Silene pratensis

Lychnis alba

Common Name

white cockle

White cockle (Silene latifolia)

Compiled by Melissa Graves Montana State University and Marjolein Schat, Cornell University, from the following sources:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SILA21

http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/Written_findings/Silene_latifolia.html

http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/pnw0585/pnw0585.pdf

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242000772

Identification and Life Cycle

White cockle (Silene latifolia ssp. alba) is a biennial or short lived perennial in the pink (Caryophyllaceae) family. It is also known as bladder campion, white campion, and evening lychnis. White cockle is 1.5 to 3.5 feet tall and has jointed stems that can be spreading or nearly erect. The plant is hairy below and glandular toward the top. Its hairy leaves are opposite, simple, and ovate to lanceolate. The plant is dioecious, with male and female flowers borne on separate plants. The fragrant flowers are solitary and are found on long peduncles or in cymose clusters. The flowers have five white or pink deeply notched petals greatly exceeding the length of the calyx. The flowers open in the evening and close by noon. The small, rounded, rough seeds are produced in a bulb-like capsule.

Habitats

White cockle may be found in grasslands and new clover and alfalfa seedings. While fields, roadsides, pastures, grass embankments, and waste places are characteristic white cockle habitats, it is also found in many undisturbed areas. This species prefers well-drained soils.

Impacts

White cockle can be a serious problem in small grains, alfalfa, clover, and grass seed fields. Due to similarity in size, the seeds are difficult to separate from commercially produced clover or alfalfa seed.

Biology and Ecology

White cockle reproduces by seeds and short rootstocks. In dry climates, it is typically found on irrigated land. Seeds germinate primarily in the fall, but germination can occur anytime the soil is warm and moist. Seedlings are intolerant of high temperatures. Flowering begins in May and continues through October. Seeds are very light and can be spread through recycled irrigation water. Although the seeds can remain viable for several years in the soil, the seed bank on the surface normally lasts about three years. A single white campion plant is capable of producing up to 25,000 seeds per season.

Biological Control

There are no biological control agents available for control of white cockle.

Mechanical and Cultural Control

Cultivation or tillage for regular seedbed preparation will kill many white cockle plants. Well-established plants are usually not killed and tillage can promote seed germination. Tillage can be a suitable control option in row crops or prior to seeding small-seeded grasses or legumes. In alfalfa, frequent cutting or short cutting intervals (less than 30 days) will help reduce the incidence of mature seed development, but yields may be reduced and stand life may be shortened. Frequent cutting of ditch banks and field edges to prevent seed formation may eventually reduce or eliminate the infestation, as white cockle is not a long-lived plant.

Chemical Control

White cockle can be more easily controlled in field crops when it is in the seedling stage or during seed germination.

Examples of herbicides that can be used to manage white cockle

Consult herbicide labels for additional rate, application, and safety information. Additional herbicide information can be found at http://www.greenbook.net.

Due to constantly changing labels, laws and regulations, the sponsors of this web site assume no liability for the suggested use of any chemicals noted in the management section. Contact your local pest management personnel for current information on labeled pesticides that can be used for the intended plant disease, insect pest or weed.

References

For more information and images please visit IPM Bugwood. http://www.ipmimages.org/search/action.cfm?q=white%20cockle&Start=1&results=55