Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Plant Identification => Plant Identification Questions and Answers => Topic started by: alpines on November 28, 2011, 11:43:21 PM

Title: Italian Curiosity
Post by: alpines on November 28, 2011, 11:43:21 PM

Anybody any idea what this is? Photo taken in August Riviera del Brenta, Italy.
Would appreciate your help in IDing this.
Many thanks
Alan

Title: Re: Italian Curiosity
Post by: Paul T on November 29, 2011, 12:57:35 AM

Alan,

Would it be a Silene?  I don't know my species well enough to tell you any further, but it certainly reminds me of a Silene?

Title: Re: Italian Curiosity
Post by: alpines on November 29, 2011, 01:08:28 AM

Hi Paul.

Must admit that was my first inclination but on close inspection, it is not like any Silene I have ever seen before, but thanks for the suggestion.
Cheers
Alan

Title: Re: Italian Curiosity
Post by: Lori S. on November 29, 2011, 01:32:04 AM

I'd say Silene too... a flower where the petals have just dropped.

The large inflated calyx is somewhat like Silene uniflora.

Title: Re: Italian Curiosity
Post by: Paul T on November 29, 2011, 04:01:46 AM

Lori,

It looks like there is another flower in the same configuration at the top right, which may mean that there never were any larger petals? ???

Title: Re: Italian Curiosity
Post by: Lori S. on November 29, 2011, 06:08:39 AM

Here are some similar-looking pix of Silene vulgaris:
http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/silvu.htm