Family |
Caryophyllaceae
Silene longipetala
Vent.
Silene longipetala Vent.
First published in Descr. Pl. Nouv.: t. 83 (1802).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 1, pp. 502–503, Pl. CLXXIV, 2; 1966)
Description
Life-form & habit: Perennial with erect stems, 40–100 cm tall, lightly hairy at the base and hairless and slightly sticky above.
Leaves: Lower leaves are pointed, oblong-lanceolate and narrowed into a stalk; floral leaves are short and linear.
Inflorescence & flowers: Large, open panicles with spreading or backward-curving branches, each bearing 3–7 more or less nodding flowers. The hairless calyx is 7–10 mm long, with blunt oval teeth. Yellowish-white petals divide into two long narrow lobes; their claws are fringed with hairs.
Fruit: Oval to rounded capsule, four times as long as its supporting stalk. Seeds are slightly rough and grooved on the back.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: Flowering April–July.
Habitat & elevation: Fields and woodland.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Saida, Saadiyat, Beirut, Jabal Terbol, Deir el Qamar, Abey, Hasroun, Rahoue, Ain Zhalta, Dahr el Baidar, Khan Sannine, the Cedars, Tannourine, Jisr el Hajar, Barouk, Zahle, Baalbeck, Yannta road, Qaa and Sannine.
Syrian distribution: Wadi el Qarn, Bloudane, Jabal Abou Ata, Kissoue, Doummar, Jabal Qasyoun, Aleppo, Hama–Qoumhane, Homs–Hama, Maarat en Noaman, above Arne and Soueida.
Native range: Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon-Syria, Palestine, Türkiye.
Introduced into: Algeria.