Caryophyllaceae

S. orientalis L., Sp. Pl. 409 (1753). Ic: Grossh., Fl. Kavk. 3: t. 32 f. 9 (1945). Annual herb, divaricately branched, 8-25 cm, with glabrous leaves, otherwise
with an indumentum of glandular hairs of varying density. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, shortly petiolate. Inflorescence loose, many-flowered. Bracts often recurved. Pedicels erect-spreading, as long as, or rarely shorter than, the calyces. Calyx oblong-cylindrical, 5-8 mm, with very short acute teeth, with an indumentum of long, capitate, glandular hairs, sometimes also with very short glandular hairs. Petals rose or pink, linear, retuse or bifid, 6-9 mm. Capsule oblong-cylindrical, slightly longer than the calyx. Fl. 4-8. Rocky slopes, screes, fallow fields, 400-2000 m.
Described from the Orient (Hb. Linn. 580/10 photo!).
A3 Bolu: Bolu, Pestalozza. A4 Kastamonu: Küre to Inebolu, 750 m, D. 21604! A5 Amasya: Amasya, 400-500 m, Bornm. 1890: 1800! A6 Amasya: Ak Da. above Tafra, 800-900 m, Bornm. 1890: 67. A7 Giresun: 10 km N of Şebinkarahissar, 1300-1330 m, Hub.-Mor. 13058. A8 Gümüşane: Soğanli Da., N of Bayburt, 1650 m, D. 32005! A9 Kars: Selim to Sarikamiş, 1900 m, D. 30277! B2 Kütahya: Murat Da., 1000 m, D. 36864! B3 Konya: Akşehir, 1000 m, Bornm. 1899: 4151. B4 Ankara: Ankara, Tchihatcheff. B5 Kayseri: Kayseri, 1300 m, Bornm. 1890: 2060! B7 Elaziğ: 32 km W of Elaziğ, 1170m, Hub.-Mor. 9048. B8 Erzurum: Horasan to Pasinler, 1700 m, D. 30827! B9 Bitlis: Bitlis, Schischkin. C2 Burdur: Fethiye to Dirmil, Hub.-Mor. 5645! C7 Adiyaman: Kahta to Malatya, Hand-Mazz. 2413.
Greece (?), Caucasia, N. & W. Iran, Khorassan. Variable in the density of indumentum; the stems are sometimes glabrous.