Author: آمنه غلامی 
Silene italica L.
Mohammad Dadmand and Mostafa Assadi
Natural Resources Gene Bank, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Tehran, Iran.
Uploaded at September 2024
Scientific editor: Masoumeh Izadpanah and Parvin Salehi Shanjani
Seed Storage
Storage behavior of this species is orthodox (desiccation-tolerant seeds); dry to 15 to 20% eRH and store at -20°C.
Germination requirements
The seeds of this species are non-dormant. Sterilize seeds before placing on wet germination paper or sand. Put them in 5 to 10 °C for 15 days to germinate uniformly. Then germinate at 20°C under 16/8 hr (day/ night) photoperiod.
Morphology
Fruit type: Capsule, dehiscent by 6 triangular toothed opening.
Fruit shape: Ovoid, tightly enclosed in calyx
Fruit size: –
Seed shape: Reniform to circular, laterally compressed. Surface covered with shallow papillae, dull, dull, brown-grey.
Seed size: Length 1.2 to 1.4 mm, width 1 to1.2 mm in an accession which was collected from Ilam in 2003 and the cultivated sample was identified by Mostafa Asadi and is stored in the Natural Resources Gene Bank of Iran with the accession number 174524.
Average 1000 seeds weight: 0.5 to 2 g
Biological features
Life Form: Herbaceous, perennial. Stem erect, up to 65 cm height
Inflorescence, flower type and pollination mechanism: Inflorescence cyme, flowers white. Plant monoecious, cross-pollinated. Pollination is carried out by both wind (anemophily) and insect (entomophily).
Time of flowering: May
Time of seed ripening: May to June
Seed dispersal methods: Seed weight
Geographical distribution: Central Europe, southern Russia and Iran. Typus from Italy
Distribution in Iran: North, West, and Center. Mostly in provinces Mazandaran, Gorgan, Gilan, Azarbaijan and Alborz
Taxonomy
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Genus: Silene
Species: S. italica
Common name: Italian Catchfly
References and Links
Asadi, M., Fadaei, F., Tawakli, Z., Heydari Rikan, M., Mostafavi, G., Mahdavi, M., Poursakhi, K. and Nejad Flatori, A. 2023. Flora of Iran. Charyophyllaceae. Institute of Forests and Rangelands Press, Tehran, Iran, Publication, No. 168, 987 pp.
Bojňanský, V. and Fargašová, A. 2007. Atlas of seeds and fruits of central and East-European flora: the Carpathian Mountains region. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 1046 pp.
Ghahraman, A. Flore of Iran. Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands with University of Tehran Publication. https://floraofiran.net/index.php.
Mozaffarian, V. 2012. A Pictorial Dictionary of Botany. Farhange Moaser publisher, 1088 pp.
Mozaffarian, V.A. 1998. Dictionary of Iranian Plants Names. Moaser Publisher, Tehran Farhang, 671 pp.
Rechinger, K.H. 1970. Flora Iranica. A kadem ische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt. No. 136, 528 pp.
