Silene vulgaris



Silene vulgaris, the bladder campion or maidenstears, is a plant species of the genus Silene of the family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to Europe, temperate Asia, and northern Africa. It has been widely naturalized in North America.

Description
The plant can reach 3 ft in height, with flowers about 1.5 cm wide.

Similar species include S. noctiflora and S. latifolia.

Distribution and habitat
It is native to Europe, temperate Asia and northern Africa and has been introduced to other parts of the world, particularly North America, where it is now widespread and a common wild flower in meadows, open woods and fields.

Uses


The young shoots and the leaves are sometimes used as food in some countries of the Mediterranean region. The tender leaves may be eaten raw in salads. The older leaves are usually eaten boiled or fried, sauteed with garlic or in omelettes.

Crete and Cyprus
In Crete it is called agriopapoula (αγριοπάπουλα) and its leaves and tender shoots are eaten browned in olive oil.

In Cyprus it is very widely eaten, so much so that in recent years it has once again been cultivated and sold in shops in bunches. Two of the common Cypriot names are strouthouthkia (στρουθούθκια; ) and tsakrithkia (τσακρίδκια; ).

Italy
In Italy the leaves of this plant may be used as an ingredient in risotto. It is commonly known as sculpit, stridolo or by the obsolete scientific name Silene inflata, as well as s-ciopetin, grixol in Veneto and nenkuz or sclopit in Friuli and cojet in Piedmont.

Spain (La Mancha)
In the La Mancha region of Spain, where Silene vulgaris leaves are valued as a green vegetable, there used to be people known as collejeros who picked and sold these plants. Leaves are small and narrow so it takes many plants to obtain a sizeable amount.

In La Mancha S. vulgaris leaves, locally known as collejas, were mainly used to prepare gazpacho viudo (widower gazpacho), consisting of flatbread known as tortas de gazpacho and a stew prepared with Silene vulgaris leaves. Other dishes prepared with these leaves in Spain include potaje de garbanzos y collejas, huevos revueltos con collejas and arroz con collejas.