CERASTIUM PUMILUM subsp. GLUTINOSUM

Family:- CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Cerastium diffusum, Cerastium glutinosum

Meaning:- Cerastium (Gr) Horned, (the fruiting capsule's shape).

Pumilum (L) Very small, low, small, dwarf.

Glutinosum (L) Sticky, viscous, glutinous. with glue.

General description:- Ascending to erect annual.

Stem:-

1) 4-12(-20) cm. Whole plant usually pale green to yellowish-green.

2) Lower part patently glandular-pubescent.

Leaves:-

1) 5-20 mm.

2) Lower oblanceolate to spathulate.

3) Upper ovate to elliptical, patently glandular-pubescent.

Flowers:-

1) Pedicels much longer than the sepals.

2) Bracts usually herbaceous.

3) Sepals 4-9 mm, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, acute or gradually narrowing to a

point (acuminate), with a dry, paper-like (scarious) margin at the apex for up

to 1/10 their length, with glandular hairs, and some eglandular hairs not

exceeding the apex.

4) Petals shorter than the sepals, bifid for c. 1/5 their length, with branched veins.

5) Stamens and Styles 4 or 5.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule 5-10 mm.

2) Seeds 0·4-0·7 mm, yellowish to chestnut-brown, bluntly tuberculate.

Key features:-

1) Fruiting pedicels 0.8-2 times as long as the sepals, patent or recurved.

2) Flowers often 4-merous.

Habitat:- Dry, open sandy and rocky places, mainly in coastal areas, occasionally

to 1800 m on mainland Greece.

Distribution:- Throughout Greece, especially in the north - most of Europe,

introduced elsewhere. Very rare on Crete currently known from only two locations.

Flowering time:- Mar-May

Photos by:- Courtesy of Wiki-Commons.