Author: آمنه غلامی 
Silene elymaitica Bornm.
Parvin Salehi Shanjani, Sara Nikkhah and Azadeh Akhavan
Natural Resources Gene Bank, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Tehran, Iran.
Uploaded at January 2026
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, dehiscent
Fruit shape: Elliptical
Fruit size: Length 10 to 14 mm, width 5 to 7 mm
Seed shape: Reniform, slightly compressed, marginal face slightly concave, hilum v-shaped. Surface covered with shallow papillae, wrinkly, lusterless, pale brown
Seed size: Length 1/80 to 1.96 mm, width 1.43 to 1.53 mm in an accession from Fereidonshahr, Isfahan, with 1000 seeds weight 1 g, which was collected and identified in 2018 by Azadeh Akhavan, and is stored in the Natural Resources Gene Bank of Iran with an accession number of 47471.
Average 1000 seed weight: 1 g
Biological features
Life form: Perennial, caespitose, woody at base, pubescent. Stems numerous, erect, 15 to 36 cm long
Inflorescence, flower type, and pollination mechanism: Inflorescence cymose, terminal; flowers regular, with 1 to 2 flowers, calyx is gamosepalous, cylindrical, covered with glandular trichrome, with 5 teeth, corolla petaliferous, with 5 petals, petals pinkish yellow to smoky brown. Plant monoecious, cross-pollinated. Pollination is carried out by insects and wind.
Time of flowering: Spring
Time of seed ripening: Summer
Seed dispersal methods: Seed weight
Geographical distribution: Endemic to Iran. Typus from Mountain Oshtoran, Lorestan
Distribution in Iran: West and Center. Mostly in Provinces Lorestan, Hemedan and Isfehan
Taxonomy
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Genus: Silene
Species: S. elymaitica
Persian name: Silene-e oshtorankuhi
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.
