Holosteum L.

8. Holosteum L. View in CoL 2

Annual. Inflorescence terminal, umbellate. Petals irregularly toothed; styles 3. Fruit a cylindrical capsule. Seeds asymmetrically reniform and laterally expanded.

1. H. umbellatum L. , Sp. Pl. 88 (1753). Erect, simple or branched, up to 20(-35) cm, usually glaucous towards base, and variably glandular-viscid. Basal leaves oblanceolate, narrow ed into petiole; cauline elliptical, sessile; all leaves acute, entire. Flowers in simple umbels on slender pedicels o f varying length; pedicels deflexed in young fruiting stage. Petals white or pale pink, ab o u t twice as long as sepals. Capsule cylindrical, som ew hat narrow ed above, twice as long as sepals. Seeds 0-5-1 mm, reddish-brow n. On light often sandy soils, usually in disturbed habitats. Most o f C., E. & S. Europe, extending northwards to S. Sweden and England. A u Be Br Bu C r Cz D a G a G e G r H e H o H s H u It Ju Lu Po R m R s (B, C, W, K, E) Sa Si Su Tu.

Very variable in habit and indum entum.

(a) Subsp. umbellatum : G landular hairs m ore or less confined to m iddle p art o f stem and m argin o f leaves. Stamens usually 3-5. 2n = 20. Throughout the range o f the species.

(b) Subsp. glutinosum (Bieb.) N ym an, Consp. 112 (1878) ( H. glutinosum (Bieb.) Fischer & C. A. Meyer): W hole plant, except leaf-surfaces, m ore or less viscid w ith a dense glandular pubescence. Stamens usually 8-10. Mainly in S.E. Europe.