Author: آمنه غلامی 
Silene meyeri Fenzl ex Boissi.
Parvin Salehi Shanjani, Sara Nikkhah, Mohammad Mahmoodi and Smaiil Jarchi
Natural Resources Gene Bank, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Tehran, Iran.
Uploaded at July 2025
Scientific editor: Masoumeh Izadpanah
Seed Storage
The storage behavior of this species is orthodox (desiccation-tolerant seeds), dry to 15-20% eRH, and store at -20°C.
Germination requirements
The seeds of this species are not dormant. Sterilize seeds before placing them on wet germination paper. Place seeds for two weeks at 4 ºC to germinate uniformly. Then germinate under an alternating temperature regime of 15/20 ºC (the higher temperature for 16 hours in light and the lower one for eight hours in dark).
Morphology
Fruit type: Capsule
Fruit shape: Rectangular-ovoid
Fruit size: Length 9 to 7 mm, width 4 to 5 m.
Seed shape: Reniform, slight flattish, biconvex, hilum circular, concave. Surface papilla in rows, dull, brown
Seed size: Length 0.96 to 1.15 mm, width 0.83 to 0.90 mm in an accession from Zanjan, with 1000 seeds weight 0.19 g, which was collected and identified in 2018 by Mohammad Mahmoodi and Smaiil Jarchi, and is stored in the Natural Resources Gene Bank of Iran with an accession number of 46114.
Average 1000 seed weight: 0.19 g
Biological features
Life form: Perennial, woody at base, caespitose. Stems numerus, flowering stems erect, 3 to 7(to 10) cm long
Inflorescence, flower type, and pollination mechanism: Inflorescences cymose, with 1 to 3 flowers, axillary; calyx gamosepalus, cylindrical covered with glandular hairs, corolla petaliferous, petal white to pink and sometimes purple. Plant monoecious, cross-pollinated. Pollination is carried out by insects and wind.
Time of flowering: Spring
Time of seed ripening: Early summer
Seed dispersal methods: Seed weight
Geographical distribution: Caucasus and Iran. Typus from Talesh, Gilan
Distribution in Iran: Northwest. Mostly in the provinces of Golestan, Tehran, Kurdistan, Zanjan and Azerbaijan
Taxonomy
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Genus: Silene
Species: S. meyeri
Persian name: Silen-e Sakhrei
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.
Black, M. and Bewley, J.D. 2000. Seed technology and its biological basis. Sheffield Academic Press, 1-419 P.
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 P.
Ghahraman, A. Flore of Iran. Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands with University of Tehran Publication. https://floraofiran.net/index.php.
Mozaffarian, V.A. 1998. Dictionary of Iranian plants names. Farhange Moaser Publisher, Tehran, 671 P.
Mozaffarian, V.A. 2012. A Pictorial dictionary of botany. Farhange Moaser Publisher, Tehran, 1088 P.
Sharma, O.P. 2009. Plant taxonomy 2E. Tata McGraw-Hill Education, New Delhi, 563 P.
