Silene kumaonensis F. N. Williams, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 32: 43 1896. ;
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W. Central & Central Himalaya: Nepal, West Himalaya as per POWO;
Perennial herbs, subscandent, about 30-80 cm tall. Stem erect, simple or branched, pubescent, rootstock slender, stout. Leaves simple, opposite, radical leaves, lanceolate, about 1.5-3.5 x 0.5-1.5 cm across, margins slightly undulate, apex acute, midrib impressed above and prominent beneath, glabrous, petiole short, cauline leaves lanceolate-oblong, about 1.2-3.5 x 0.5-2 cm across margins undulate, apex acute to obtuse, stipules absent. Inflorescence simple or branched cymes, about 1-3 flowered, usually dichotomously branched, terminal or supra-axillary, peduncle long. Flowers bisexual, about 1.8-2.3 cm long, noddling when young and erect later, pedicel about 1-2 cm long, bracts paired, foliaceous, bracteoles about 3-4 mm long, calyx tube ovate-campanulate, about 13-15 x 6-8 mm across, margins not scarious, membranous, scabrid puberulous, commissures between sepals 1 veined, hirsute on veins, teeth lanceolate, ciliolate, apex acute, petals 5, narrow oblanceolate, whitish green, limb and clawed cuneate, about 6-7 mm longer than calyx, usually marked with 2 lateral auricles, limb bi-fid, teeth lanceolate, apex acute, lobes oblong linear. Stamens 10 or less, usually adnate to petals, carpophores about 3-4 mm long, filaments distinct. Ovary superior, unilocular above and 3-5 locular near the base, style 3, filiform, stigma 3. Fruit capsule, ovoid-globose, about 8-9 x 6-7 mm across, dehiscing with 5 valves or splitting into 10 equal teeth. Seeds many, reniform, concave in front and convex behind, tuberculate, brown.
Temperate and alpine Himalayas, altitude 2500-4500 m.
(Attributions: Ganeshaiah, K. N., UAS, Bangalore, India.; Kailash, B. R., ATREE, Bangalore, India.; Royal Norwegian Embassy grants. Indian Bioresource Information Network (IBIN), Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi, India as per India Biodiversity Portal)
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SK 3048 15 October 2021: 8 very high res. images.
Location: Jumla, Nepal
Altitude: 2893m.
Date: 18 August 2021
Habit : Wild
Silene stracheyi Edgew. ??
Silene kumaonensis!
Very nice and informative pictures. Will be useful for the Flora of Nepal description
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References: POWO Catalogue of Life The Plant List Ver.1.1 IPNI GBIF (High resolution specimens) Pan India Bouquets India Biodiversity Portal IBIS Flora (Flora of British India)