| Caryophyllaceae |
|---|
Stellaria persica BOISS. |
Stellaria persica BOISS. |
Stellaria L. |
| S. persica Boiss., Diagn. ser. 2(1): 85 (1853). Syn: S. glauca With. var. virens Fenzl in Ledebour, Fl. Ross. 1: 390 (1842) ex parte; S. glauca var. persica (Boiss.) Boiss., Fl. Or. 1: 780 (1867)! S. virens (Fenzl) Rupr., Fl. Cauc. 1: 222 (1868). Slender, erect, perennial, 10-25 cm. Stems quadrangular, glabrous or scabrous. Leaves narrowly oblong or lanceolate, acute, 9-18 x 1-3 mm, often erect and adpressed to the stem. Inflorescence with fewer than 10 flowers. Bracts usually small and scarious. Sepals 4-5 mm. Petals 6-7 mm, about 1+ x longer than the sepals. Fl. 5-7. By streams, water-meadows, 1500-2800 m. Type: [Iran] Monta Ellwind Persiae, Aucher 610 (G!). A9 Kars: Horassan to Karaurgan, 2000 m, D. 29509! B9 Van: Hoşap, Kepir Da., 2800 m, D. 23343! Ağri: Taschliczaj (?Taşliçay) to Karakilise on the Murat Çay, c. 1500 m, 20 v 1916, Schischkin. Caucasia, W. Iran. Difficult to distinguish from S. graminea; the entire bracts and petals longer than the sepals seem to be the best diagnostics. Sometimes treated as a variety of S. glauca (itself probably synonymous with S. palustris Ehrh.). Fl. URSS states that S. persica has leaves 1-2 mm broad and is green, while S. palustris has leaves 2-4 mm broad and is often glaucous. Hayek, in Ann.Nat. Hofm. Wien 28: 159 (1914), records S. palustris from C5 Niğde: Masmutli Da., 2800 m, Siehe 193; this specimen is probably 5. persica. |