Silene crassifolia L.

Geophytic perennial 7-30 cm tall, forming loose or or more compact mats; tuber cylindrical or ovoid; stems prostrate or straggling, decumbent, basal woody portion 2-5 mm diam. but (1.0-)1.5-2.0 mm diam. at base of inflorescence, ± densely puberulous-scabridulous with short, deflexed or spreading, acute hairs, rarely sub-glabrous. Leaves cauline, lower mostly dry or withered, oblanceolate to obovate or suborbicular, (10-)15-50 x 5-18 mm, obtuse, apiculate or weakly uncinate, base narrowed in lower leaves, leathery to sub-succulent, ± dennsely adpressed-puberulous to thickly felted, rarely glabrous on adaxial or both surfaces, hairs acute, margins ciliate towards base with longer, straggling hairs to 1 mm long, without evident side veins. Inflorescence a lax or dense, (2)3-8(-10)-flowered monochasium terminating main stems and branches, not evidently separated from leafy stem, rachis 1.0-1.5 mm diam.; bracts smaller than leaves, unequal to subequal, ovate or obosate to oblong or linear-lanceolate, puberulous to thickly felted with appressed or erect, acute hairs, margins densely ciliolate; pedicels 3-10(-15) mm long, rarely up to 20 mm long in fruit. Calyx clavate or loosely funnel-shaped in flower, (10-)12-18(-20) x 3-5 mm at anthesis, strongly plicate, equally 10-veined, densely adpressed-puberulous/felted, lobes ovate or triangular, ± 2-3 mm long, densely ciliolate. Flowers patent at anthesis, nocturnal. Petals white to pale yellowish or pale pink, claw ± 7(-10) mm long, rarely exserted up to 4 mm beyond calyx, narrowed below, without evident auricles, pubescent along midrib and veins on outer surface, limb bifid, 4-6 x 4-6 mm, coronal scales 0.8-1.0 mm long. Stamen filaments slightly unequal, 6-7 mm long, shorter series shortly included, longer series reaching top of claw or exserted up to 1.5 mm. Ovary ellipsoid, ± 4 mm long; styles 4-5 mm long, exserted up to 2 mm. Capsule broadly ovoid or subglobose, (8-)10-12 x 7-10 mm, subequal to slightly longer than carpophore, smooth; carpophore 4-8 mm long, pubescent. Seeds 1.0-1.5 mm, reniform with deep hilar notch, flanks flat or somewhat concave, back deeply and narrowly grooved between two undulate wings, reddish brown, testa striate.