SILENE VULGARIS subsp. SUFFRUTESCENS
Family and Genus:- See- CARYOPHYLLACEAE/Sect. INFLATAE
Common Names:- None
Homotypic Synonyms:- Oberna behen subsp. suffrutescens, Oberna
suffrutescens.
Meaning:- Silene (Gr) A name used by the Greek philosopher Theophrastus for
catchfly.
Vulgaris (L) Vulgar, common.
Suffrutescen (L) Slightly or becoming woody at the base.
General description:- Plant without stolons. Very variable short to medium,
greyish, usually glabrous; and woody at the base. Perennial.
Stems:-
1) Up to 50 cm, erect, usually branched, glabrous or pubescent, often glaucous.
Leaves:-
1) 4-7 x 0·7-1·6 cm. Opposite, simple, narrowly lanceolate, a little fleshy, glabrous.
2) Lower, petiolate, the higher ones amplexicaul
Flowers:-
1) Inflorescence, with numerous flowers; pink or greenish, from 12-16 mm, joined
together in stalked cymes.
2) Flowers, inclined, somewhat zygomorphic, (especially the functionally female).
3) Corolla, with 5 free bifid petals.
4) Coronal scales, poorly-developed.
5) Calyx, very swollen, utricle-like, persisting after flowering.
6) Bracts, usually scarious.
7) Styles, 3.
Fruit:-
1) Ripe capsule, up to 11 mm, with neck 2-3 mm wide patent teeth. carpophore
2-4 mm
2) Seeds, large, 1·6-2·1 , usually tuberculate.
Key features:-
1) Calyx, glabrous and glaucous.
2) Petals, bifid; usually pink or greenish.
3) Plant, suffruticose, without stolons.
4) Inflorescence, many flowered.
5) Bracts, usually scarious.
6) Capsule, usually more than 10 mm.
Habitat:- In a wide variety of natural and anthropogenic habitats on various
substrates. 0-900 m.
Distribution:- Endemic Crete, Peloponnisos & Ipiros. Sporadic and limited
distribution on Crete.
Flowering time:- Mar-July.
Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
