MaltaWildplants.com

John Holst · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:18 pm Post subject: Caryophyllaceae species

I hadn't seen Minuartia (Rhodalsine) geniculata before, and it was one of the most beatiful plants I saw that day.

Well, I think it's M. geniculata. Smile

John Holst · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:19 pm Post subject:

Same species.

John Holst · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:22 pm Post subject:

This must be subspecies media since upper part of stems has one line of hair whereas subspecies cupaniana has hair all round the upper part of the stem.

John Holst · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:27 pm Post subject:

The patent fruiting sepals are characteristic of subspecies erecta.

On the other hand I'm not sure if there are other Sagina species in Malta which looks much like S. apetala.

John Holst · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:29 pm Post subject:

Polycarpon no doubt, but I'm not very familiar with the species of this genus.

John Holst · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:31 pm Post subject:

Uniformly pink flowers tells it's most likely S. rubra.

John Holst · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:35 pm Post subject:

Sepals densely hairy and petals with white base are the reasons why the following are identified as S. bocconii.

John Holst · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:38 pm Post subject:

I wonder what grass species have spread their "flowers" on the ground.

John Holst · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:39 pm Post subject:

Same specimen, close-up.

John Holst · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:41 pm Post subject:

I really could do with some help here. Too many Silene species in Malta that I don't know.

John Holst · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:44 pm Post subject:

Same specimen.

John Holst · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:45 pm Post subject:

Another Silene species, or maybe it's the same as A?

John Holst · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:47 pm Post subject:

Same specimen

IL-PINE · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:07 am Post subject:

rhodalsine geniculata or minuartia is correct.
stellaria i have no idea.
sagina apetala is probably correct, i have only seen this species till far in malta
polycarpon is probably tetraphyllum - the commonest in malta
spergularia are probably correct
the silene both a and b are Silene nocturna

John Holst · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 3:18 pm Post subject:

IL-PINE, I really appreciate your feedbacks!

MWP admin · Site Admin Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Posts: 3027 Location: Malta

Silene nocturna 100% but I am writing just to correct the species from bocconii to bocconei

The S. rubra is interesting and may ask you to email me a photo for further analysis

John Holst · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 6:03 pm Post subject:

Stephen,

The original photo of Spergula rubra is 5 Mb large, and therefore I cannot attach it to e-mails at my home pc. I will send it to you tomorrow along with other photoes from the pc at the nature centre, where file size isn't an issue.