Silene ciliata (Silene ciliata)
Description
Silene ciliata is a plant of the genus Silene of the family Caryophyllaceae . Perennial herb , densely turf-shaped, forming dense, hard pads. Stems erect-ascending, sometimes geniculate at the nodes. Linear or oblaceoladas leaves . Flowers grouped in monocasios ; chalice up to 15 mm, ovoid, more or less hairy; petals with limb up to 5 mm, bifid, yellowish or reddish. Fruit in pedunculated capsule, ovoid, which opens by 6 teeth, up to 9 x 6 mm. It blooms at the end of spring and in summer. Frequent in meadows of summits. The cushion habit of some plants that grow in the meadows of summits is an adaptation to the adverse climatic conditions that have to endure. The wind that blows on the peaks is sometimes very strong and could break the stems: the dense pads avoid this problem. also this habit is an adaptation to avoid the loss of water by decreasing the surface of the plant that is exposed to the air.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Caryophyllales
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Family: Caryophyllaceae
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Genus: Silene
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