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MaltaWildPlants.com by Stephen Mifsud |
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Silene fruticosa (Woody Catchfly) |
Silene fruticosa (CARYOPHYLLACEAE.) Images for this profile are taken from the Maltese Islands after year 2000. |
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Nomenclature and Basic Information |
Species name : |
Silene fruticosaL.
Published in Sp. Pl. 417 (1753) |
Synonyms :
(basionym or principal syn.) |
No Main Synonyms |
Plant Family : |
Caryophyllaceae
Juss. (The Pink or Carnation Family) 39 species from the Caryophyllaceae family are recorded from the Maltese Islands. | English name(s) : | Woody Catchfly, Shrubby Campion |
Maltese name(s) : |
Lsien l-Għasfur tal-Blat |
Status for Malta : |
Indigenous. Present on the Maltese islands before man |
Frequency : |
Very Common Common Frequent Scarce Rare Very rare Extinct |
Growth form : |
Raunkiaer lifeform [info]: CHAMEOPHYTE ( dwarf or small woody shrubs )
Germination [info]: Dicotyledon |
Legal Protection : |
Protected by law: Schedule VI of [S.L. 549.44] (strictly protected species) |
Red List (1989) : |
Threatened status for the Maltese Islands and has been listed in the Red Data Book (1st ed.) |
Flowering Time : |
April – June |
Colour of Flowers: |
Pink |
Name Derivation : |
Silene: "probably from the Greek ""sialon"" (=saliva) referring to the viscous excretion of several species. Another derivation could come from the name Silenus, the intoxicated foster-father of Bacchus (god of wine) who was covered with foam, much like the glandular secretions of many species of this genus". (Greek origin )
fruticosa: Having a shrubby or bushy appearance. (Latin origin )
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Remarks : |
A very rare plant found in few sites along the Western coast of Gozo. |
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Description, Habitat and Distribution |
Habitat in Europe: |
Data will be available in the next update of this website. |
Preferred habitat in Malta: |
Data will be available in the next update of this website. |
Botanical Description: |
Robust perennial up to 50 cm, almost completely glabrous. Lower leaves obovate or narrowly spathulate, the upper lanceolate; all glabrous and shining above, ciliate. Inflorescence dense; flowers large, erect, on short peduncles. Calyx c. 25 mm, with patent glandular hairs; teeth acute. Petals pink or red, shallowly bifid; coronal scales obvious, acute, sometimes laciniate. Capsule c. 15 mm, ovoid, beaked, equalling or longer than carpophore. Seeds 1.5-2 mm. |
Chromosome number: |
2n=24 |
Distributional range: |
Mediterranean region (Sicilia to Karpathos) very local |
Distributional map in Europe and the Mediterranean region (2018): |
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Occurrences in Europe. (from Flora Europaea pre year 1993): |
Crete, Greece, Sicily and/or Malta |
Occurrences in Europe and the Mediterranean region. (from Euro+Med Checklist, 2019)
Country codes
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? AE Cr Cy Eg Gr ?It Li Si(M S) |
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