SILENE PINETORUM subsp. SPHACIOTICA

including subsp. pinetorum map only

Family:- CARYOPHYLLACEAE/Sect. RIGIDULAE.

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Silene (Gr) A name used by the Greek philosopher Theophrastus for

catchfly.

Pinetorum (L) Associated with pine, of pine woods

Sphaciotica (Gr) Damaged-looking.

General description:- Annual.

Stems:-

1) 5-20 cm, branched, puberulent below, glabrous above.

Leaves:-

Flowers:-

1) Calyx, 4-7·5 mm, clavate in fruit, glabrous.

2) Calyx-teeth short, ovate, rounded.

3) Petals, pink; claw scarcely exserted; limb 2-3 mm, bifid.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 3·5-4·5 mm; carpophore 2-3 mm, slender, glabrous.

2) Seeds, 0·6-0·8 mm, pale brown faces, slightly concave, very finely striate; back

very wide, plane or slightly concave, smooth or finely striate.

Key features:-

1) Seeds with a plane or concave, but not an excavate, face.

2) Calyx 4-7·5 mm, glabrous.

3) Petal-limb exserted.

Habitat:- CaIcareous scree in gorges and dry streambeds, occasionally on sandy

flats. 0-600(1000) m.

Distribution:- Endemic to Crete, rare, known from only a few locations.

Flowering time:- Apr-June

Photos by:- Marinos Gogolos