Family |
Caryophyllaceae
Silene aegyptiaca
(L.) L.fil.
Silene aegyptiaca (L.) L.f.
First published in Suppl. Pl.: 241 (1782).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 1, pp. 495–496, Pl. CLXVIII, 4; 1966)
Description
Life-form & habit: Annual with curled hairs and repeatedly forked, ascending or sometimes reclining stems.
Leaves: Lower leaves oval to spatulate, stalked and blunt or pointed; stem leaves stalkless, obovate and pointed.
Inflorescence & flowers: Axillary flowers have short stalks; terminal flowers are grouped and nearly stalkless. The hairy calyx is 1–2 cm long, often flushed reddish purple, with faint veins and blunt oval teeth edged by membrane. Petals are pink, occasionally white, shallowly divided into two lobes and with a lateral tooth on each side near the base; the crown has pointed white scales.
Fruit: Oblong capsule shorter than its supporting stalk. Seeds nearly spherical, with two black tubercles near the hilum.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: Flowering December–May.
Habitat & elevation: Especially cultivated ground.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Abundant in coastal cultivation and lower mountain districts; Fayadiye, Louize, Jamhour, Aley, Antoura, Bchela, Ejdabrine, Ibl es Saki, Rachaya, Bchennata, Hasroun, Jabal Qammoua and Kfertay.
Syrian distribution: North of Tartous, Latakia, Hosn Sleiman, Bhamra, Ain Haramiyye, Kessab, Apamea ruins, Aleppo, Eriha, Hama and Qalaat el Hosn.
Native range: Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon-Syria, Palestine, Sinai, Türkiye.