SILENE MULTICAULIS subsp. MULTICAULIS

Family:- CARYOPHYLLACEAE/Sect. SPERGULIFOLIAE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- S. multicaulis subsp. cretica

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

catchfly.

Multicaulis (L) Many-stemmed.

General description:- A weak stemmed perennial.

Stems:-

1) Generally 20-45 cm. Vegetative shoots few or lacking.

Leaves:-

1) Cauline, oblanceolate to linear, 1-4 mm wide, the upper often with fascicles of

axillary leaves.

Flowers:-

1) Few, in lax, reduced dichasia.

2) Calyx, 12-22 mm, cylindrical to clavate, glabrous to scabridulous, the lower part

tightly sheathing the anthophore.

3) Calyx-teeth alternately acute and obtuse.

4) Petal-claw, long-exserted from calyx.

5) Petal-limb, 4-8 mm, white or pale pinkish above, ± brownish-purple beneath bifid.

6) Anthophore, 5-14 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, ellipsoid 7-9·5 mm, equalling or slightly longer than the calyx.

Key features:-

1) Basal leaves linear or lanceolate, more rarely lanceolate-spathulate.

2) Calyx-teeth alternately acute and obtuse.

3) Carpophore pubescent.

4) Petal-claw long-exserted from calyx.

5) Calyx narrowly clavate.

Habitat:- Rock ledges, gorges and open woodland (0-)400-1900 m.

Distribution:- Italy and the Balkan Peninsula, southwards to the S. Peloponnisos

including Crete, where it is very rare and known only from the Dikti massif.

Flowering time:- May-Sept

Photos by:- Zacharias Angourakis and Uta Vrasna