SILENE VARIEGATA

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

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

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

catchfly.

Variegata (L) Irregularly coloured, blotched, variegated.

General description:- glabrous, rhizomatous perennial.

Stems:-

1) Ascending, flowering up to 10 cm, and variably-developed sterile shoots often

submerged in scree.

Leaves:-

1) Fleshy, glabrous, usually white-variegated.

2) Basal, spatulate.

1) Cauline, elliptical to ovate.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, few-flowered.

2) Calyx, 11-15 mm, not strongly inflated, with 10 veins very conspicuous in the

fruiting stage.

3) Petal-limb, 2-6 mm, greyish-violet, with 2 linear lobes and small coronal-scales.

4) Anthophore, 3-4 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Ripe capsule, 8-11 mm, ovate-lanceolate; carpophore c. 3 mm.

Key features:-

1) Stems, up to 10 cm; arising from long, procumbent shoots.

2) Petals, greyish-violet.

3) All internodes glabrous.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Mobile limestone screes, occasionally rocky flats and dolines. 1300-2400

Distribution:- Endemic to Crete. Rare, confined to the three main massifs.

Flowering time:- May- July

Photos by:- Yannis Zacharakis