Silene alba, (Miller) E. H. L. Krause

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1964, Flora Europaea - Volume 1. Lycopodiaceae to Platanaceae, Cambridge University Press : 174

105. S. alba (Miller) E. H. L. Krause in Sturm, Deutschl. FI. ed. 2, 5: 98 (1901)

( Melandrium album (Miller) Garcke ).

Dioecious; short-lived perennial (sometimes annual) up to 80 cm, often much-branched, usually rather densely and softly hairy, and more or less glandular above. Leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate; cauline sessile. Inflorescence a lax compound dichasium of large flowers, opening in the evening and slightly scented. Calyx of male flowers 15-22 mm, 10-veined; of female 20-30 mm, 20- veined, more or less inflated and accrescent in fruit; calyx-teeth narrowly triangular. Petals usually white; styles 5. Capsule 10-15 mm, more or less ovoid, dehiscing with 10 teeth. Usually a weed o fdisturbed or cultivated ground. Almost throughout Europe. All except Az BI Fa Is Sb; probably not native in Hb.

1 Calyx eglandular; seeds with acute tubercles. (c) subsp. eriocalycina

1 Calyx glandular; seeds with obtuse tubercles

2 Calyx-teeth obtuse; capsule-teeth erect (a) subsp. alba

2 Calyx-teeth acuminate; capsule teeth ±patent or recurved (b) subsp. divaricata