Silene portensis, L.

109. S. portensis L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 600 (1762).

Stems 15-40 cm, usually divaricately branched, puberulent or glabrous. Rosetteleaves oblong-spathulate, obtuse, rarely persistent; cauline linear, acute. Calyx 11-16 mm, davate in fruit, glabrous; teeth short, ovate, obtuse or apiculate. Petal-limb c. 6 mm, bifid to about half-way, pink, rarely whitish; claw slightly exserted. Capsule 5-6 mm; carpophore 6-9 mm, pubescent. Seeds 0-75-1 mm, blackish to pale brown; faces slightly concave, striate, with subconical tubercles at edge; back wide, plane or slightly convex, with 1 or 2 rows of subconical tubercles. S. W. Europe.?Co Ga Hs It Lu. Plants from Greece and Kriti (that appear to be introduced) with capsules 6-10 mm, equalling the carpophore in length, have usually been treated as distinct species, S. rigidula Sibth. & Sm. , FI. Graec. Prodr. 1: 299 (1809), non L., but numerous intermediates occur. Plants from S. Greece (Korinthos) described as S. corinthiaca Boiss. & Heldr. in Boiss., FI. Or. suppl. 96 (1888) differ especially in having the back of the seed distinctly grooved, and require further investigation.