SILENE COLORATA

Family and Genus:- See- CARYOPHYLLACEAE/Sect. DIPTEROSPERMAE

Common Names:- Mediterranean catchfly

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

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

catchfly.

Colorata (L) Colouring, coloured.

General description:- Decumbent to suberect, eglandular-pubescent annual.

Stems:-

1) 10-50 cm, decumbent to erect, branched.

Leaves:-

1) Cauline, oblanceolate to linear.

Flowers:-

1) 12-18 mm, in lax, few-flowered monochasia; pink, occasionally white. showy.

2) Pedicels, shorter than the calyx.

3) Bracts, of a pair usually unequal.

4) Calyx, 11-13(-17) mm, cylindrical, becoming broadly clavate in fruit.

5) Calyx-teeth, ovate, obtuse, densely ciliate.

6) Petal-limb, 6-9 mm, deeply bifid, usually bright pink; coronal scales conspicuous

whitish.

7) Anthophore, 4-6 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 7-9 mm, ovoid; carpophore 5-7 mm.

2) Seeds, 1-1·5 mm, reniform, dark chestnut-brown. almost smooth, with shoulders

produced into wavy wings.

Key features:-

1) Calyx, 10-veined.

2) Seeds, 1-1·5 mm; with the back narrowly grooved between 2 undulate wings.

3) Carpophore, more than 4 mm.

4) Calyx-teeth, ovate, obtuse.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Sandy seashores, clearings in dry open shrubby vegetation, field margins,

olive groves, often gregarious in roadside gravel. 0-700(-1200) m.

Distribution:- Widespread and common throughout the coast areas of the

Mediterranean. On Crete widespread and common around the tal areas

Flowering time:- (Dec-)Mar to early June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton