SILENE ANTRI-JOVIS

Family and Genus:- See- CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Silene fruticulosa, Silene saxifraga subsp. fruticulosa.

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

catchfly.

Antri-jovis (L) Of the Ideon Andron (Zeus' cave).

General description:- A mat- or cushion-forming perennial plant with a more or

less woody base.

Stems:-

1) 5-10(-18) cm. Numerous, slender, viscid unbranched.

Leaves:-

1) Surface sometimes rough-slightly hairy, oblanceolate, the larger 2-4mm wide.

Flowers:-

1) Pedicels, 8-20 mm.

2) Calyx, 10-13 mm.

3) Anthophore, 4-7 mm, glabrous the flowering stems unbranched, usually 5-10 cm.

4) Petal, divided at the tip in two by a median cleft to halfway into narrow,

parallel-sided lobes.

5) Petal-limb, 4-5 mm, whitish or pinkish on the upper surface and greenish to

purplish brown on the reverse.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 5-8 mm, equalling or only slightly longer than the anthophore.

Key features:-

1) Calyx, 10-13 mm.

2) Anthophore, 4-7 mm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky limestone slopes with open shrubby vegetation and open

Cupressus woodland. (200-)900-2000 m. sometimes in shady places.

Distribution:- Endemic to the mountains of central and eastern Crete, from Mount

Siderotas (south-west of Kedros) eastward to the Afendis Kavousi range. Rare.

Flowering time:- May-July.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton