SILENE SCLEROCARPA

Family:- CARYOPHYLLACEAE/Sect. SILENE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Silene cerastoides var. emporitana, Silene clusii, Silene

micropetala.

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

catchfly.

Sclerocarpa (L) Hard fruited.

General description:- Annual (or sometimes short-lived perennial?), usually

branched from the base

Stems:-

1) Ascending 5-20 cm, shortly eglandular-pubescent throughout.

Leaves:-

1) Linear.

Flowers:-

1) 2-6 in lax monochasia.

2) Pedicels 2-6 mm, erect, slender.

3) Calyx, narrowly ellipsoid at anthesis, with 10 strong, slightly anastomosing veins.

and rigid, forward-directed hairs.

5) Petal-limb, 2-3 mm, shallowly bifid, pink.

6) Anthophore, 1.5-2 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, pyriform, almost globose at the base, tapering to a distinct neck,

shorter than or equalling the calyx.

2) Seeds, c. 0.8 mm, dark brown, almost smooth, with concave sides and broad,

slightly grooved back.

Key features:-

1) Seed 0.5-0.6 mm, shoulders laterally bulging, not winged.

2) Inflorescence a regular monochasium.

3) Lower pedicels rarely to 10 mm.

4) Calyx contracted above.

5) Anthophore 1.5-2 mm.

6) Capsule globose at the base, narrowed into a neck.

Habitat:- Sandy and gravelly seashores, dry open shrubby vegetation and steppe.

0-150 m.

Distribution:- In Greece not recorded outside the Aegean area. - A S

Mediterranean species, widespread in N Africa and appearing in Europe only in the

far SW (S Spain, S Portugal) and SE. Rare on Crete known from the SE and far E,

coastal areas and one location in the far SW.

Flowering time:- Late March to May.

Photos by:- Currently none available