Caryophyllaceae species

John Holst · Post by **John Holst** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:18 pm

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.

John Holst · Post by **John Holst** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:19 pm

Same species.

John Holst · Post by **John Holst** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:22 pm

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 · Post by **John Holst** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:27 pm

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 · Post by **John Holst** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:29 pm

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

John Holst · Post by **John Holst** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:31 pm

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

John Holst · Post by **John Holst** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:35 pm

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

John Holst · Post by **John Holst** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:38 pm

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

John Holst · Post by **John Holst** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:39 pm

Same specimen, close-up.

John Holst · Post by **John Holst** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:41 pm

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

John Holst · Post by **John Holst** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:44 pm

Same specimen.

John Holst · Post by **John Holst** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:45 pm

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

John Holst · Post by **John Holst** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:47 pm

Same specimen

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:07 am

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 · Post by **John Holst** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 3:18 pm

IL-PINE, I really appreciate your feedbacks!

Post by **MWP admin** » Tue May 05, 2009 4:19 pm

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 · Post by **John Holst** » Tue May 05, 2009 6:03 pm

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.