SILENE SIEBERI

Family:- CARYOPHYLLACEAE/Sect. SIPHONOMORPHA

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- None

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

catchfly.

Sieberi (L) For the botanist Franz Wilhelm Sieber (1785-1844).

Stems:-

1) 10-30(-40) cm, stolons absent, pubescent below.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, oblanceolate-spatula-shaped, obtuse.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, divaricate , usually 1-flowered; small stems often 1- or 2-flowered.

2) Calyx,14-24 mm, glandular-pubescent, rarely more or less glabrous.

4) Petals, bifid, usually creamy-white above, reddish or greenish beneath.

5) Corona-scales. very small or absent.

6) Petal-limb, 5-8 mm long.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 8-13 mm, ovoid, usually more or less equalling the carpophore.

2) Seeds, c. 1 mm, reniform.

Key features:-

1) Capsule glabrous.

2) Calyx less than 25 mm.

3) Coronal scales small and obtuse, or absent.

Habitat:- Rock ledges, rocky limestone slopes with dry open shrubby vegetation or

open coniferous woodland. (100-)400-1800 m.

Distribution:- Endemic to Crete, fairly widespread.

Flowering time:- May-July

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis