Silene saxifraga, L.

78. S. saxifraga L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 421 (1753) View Cited Treatment

(inch 5. hayekiana Hand.-Mazz. & Janchen, S. fruticulosa Sieber ex Otth ).

Usually dwarf, often densely caespitose; stems up to 20 cm, numerous, slender, usually pubescent below, viscid above. Leaves usually linear to linear-spathulate, acute, often slightly scabrid, basally ciliate. Inflorescence 1- or 2-flowered. Calyx 8-13 mm, davate, contracted below the ripe capsule, glabrous, pale, rarely vinous. Petals whitish or greenish above, greenish or reddish beneath; claw more or less exserted; coronal scales small. Capsule 6- 10 mm, covered by the calyx; carpophore 5-6 mm, glabrous. • S. Europe, mainly in the mountains, extending northwards to Switzerland and the S. Carpathians. Al Au Bu Co Cr G a G r He Ho Hs Hu It Ju Rm Si. The following 3 taxa are related to 78 but their appropriate rank is uncertain: S. balcanica (Urum.) Hayek , Prodr. FI. Penins. Balcan. 1: 270 (1924), from Bulgaria and Macedonia, has very densely branched 1-flowered stems, small linear-lanceolate to linear-subspathulate leaves, and the capsule only slightly exceeding the calyx. It is also said to have purple and not yellow anthers. S. parnassica Boiss. & Spruner in Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Or. Nov. 2 (8): 91 (1849), described from mountains in Greece and known also from S. Albania and Italy (Appennini), is densely caespitose and has 1-flowered stems, small, linear, serrate leaves, a long-exserted petal-claw, and the capsule often completely exserted from the calyx. S. smithii Boiss. & Heldr. in Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Or. Nov. 3 (1): 77 (1853), from Greece (Evvoia), is subcaespitose, with 1-, rarely 2-flowered stems, subspathulate leaves, a slightly exserted petalclaw, a short, stout carpophore 2-3 mm long, and the ripe capsule only slightly exceeding the calyx.