Silene wolgensis (Hornem.) Otth

Male and female plants of species nos. 29--31 may differ considerably, both in vegetative and floral parts. An understanding of this variation is desirable in order to attain a useful taxonomy of this group.

Herbs biennial, 40--80 cm tall. Roots robust, lignified. Stems solitary, sparsely branched, erect, basally hirtellous, apically glabrous, sometimes viscid. Basal and proximal cauline leaves spatulate, 8--10 cm × 5--10 mm, both surfaces pubescent, ciliate at margin, midvein prominent, base attenuate into long petiole, apex acute; distal leaves linear-lanceolate. Flowers unisexual (plants dioecious), in a racemiform thyrse with many-flowered cymules. Pedicel ca. 1.5 × as long as calyx, rarely shorter, slender, glabrous; bracts triangular-lanceolate, membranous. Calyx campanulate, 3--3.5 mm, glabrous, longitudinal veins inconspicuous. Androgynophore very short or absent. Petals white, ± linear, ca. 5 mm, claws glabrous, limbs entire. Coronal scales absent. Stamens slightly exserted; filaments glabrous. Capsule ellipsoid, 4--6 mm, slightly longer than calyx. Seeds dark brown, reniform, ca. 1 mm. Fl. Jul--Aug, fr. Aug--Sep. 2n = 24.

Xinjiang [C Asia, Europe].

Dry steppes, stony mountain grasslands; 1100--1400 m.

Viscago wolgensis Hornemann, Suppl. Hort. Bot. Hafn. 48. 1819; Silene otites (Linnaeus) Wibel var. wolgensis (Hornemann) Rohrbach.