Gewöhnliches Leimkraut, Klatschnelke (MVP)

Gewöhnliches Leimkraut, Klatschnelke

Silene vulgaris

Summary ⁶

Silene vulgaris, or bladder campion is a plant species of the genus Silene of the Pink Family (Caryophyllaceae). It is native to Europe, where in some parts it is eaten, but is widespread in North America where it is considered a weed.

Gastronomy ⁷

The young shoots and the leaves may be used as food. The tender leaves may be eaten raw in salads. The older leaves are usually eaten boiled or fried, sauteed with garlic as well as in omelettes and risotto in Italy. The plant is used as a food in Spain and in Italy, where it is known as sculpit, stridolo, or by the obsolete scientific name Silene inflata.

Formerly in La Mancha region of Spain, where Silene vulgaris leaves are valued as a green vegetable, there were people known as "collejeros" who picked these plants and sold them. Leaves are small and narrow, so it takes many plants to obtain a sizeable amount.

In La Mancha the Silene vulgaris leaves, locally known as "collejas", were mainly used to prepare a dish called gazpacho viudo (widower gazpacho). The ingredients were flatbread known as tortas de gazpacho and a stew prepared with Silene vulgaris leaves. The reference to a widower originated in the fact that this dish was only eaten when meat was scarce and the leaves were emergency or lean-times food, a substitute for an essential ingredient. Other dishes prepared with these leaves in Spain include "potaje de garbanzos y collejas", "huevos revueltos con collejas" and "arroz con collejas".

In Crete it is called Agriopapoula (Αγριοπάπουλα) and the locals eat its leaves and tender shoots browned in olive oil. Common names in Italy are Sciopentin (Veneto) and Venkuz (Friulano).

In Cyprus it is very widely eaten, so much that it has, since some years, come back into being cultivated and sold in shops in bunches. Two of the common Cypriot names are Tsakrostoukkia and Strouthouthkia (στρουθούθκια).

Associations ⁸

Foodplant / open feeder
imago of Cassida hemisphaerica grazes on leaf of Silene vulgaris

Foodplant / spot causer
acervulus of Diplosporonema coelomycetous anamorph of Diplosporonema delastrei causes spots on live stem of Silene vulgaris
Remarks: season: 7-10
Other: minor host/prey

Foodplant / pathogen
embedded sorus of Microbotryum silenes-inflatae infects and damages live anther of Silene vulgaris

Foodplant / parasite
uredium of Puccinia behenis parasitises live Silene vulgaris

Foodplant / spot causer
amphigenous colony of Ramularia hyphomycetous anamorph of Ramularia didymarioides causes spots on live leaf of Silene vulgaris

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / spot causer
crowded, mostly epiphyllous, fuscous pycnidium of Septoria coelomycetous anamorph of Septoria saponariae causes spots on live leaf of Silene vulgaris
Remarks: Other: uncertain

Foodplant / parasite
telium of Uromyces behenis parasitises live stem of Silene vulgaris

Sources and Credits

(c) Colin Jacobs, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/30854310@N02/3607546690/
(c) Monteregina (Nicole), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/monteregina/5799672089/
(c) Tatters ❀, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.flickr.com/photos/tgerus/7818912244/
(c) bathyporeia, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/bathyporeia/9015237395/
(c) Joshua Mayer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/wackybadger/5838248060/
Adapted by Bea Steinemann from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silene_vulgaris
(c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silene_vulgaris
(c) BioImages, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/22911546

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