Silene graminifolia Otth

Schischkin (in Komarov, Fl. URSS 6: 626. 1936) stated that the type of Silene tenuis, a name very often applied to plants in this group, “does not correspond to the Siberian plant [ S. graminifolia Otth] and belongs to some other species.” It is imperative that the identity of S. tenuis be settled.

Herbs perennial, 15--50 cm. Roots robust, multicrowned. Stems caespitose, erect, slender, simple, glabrous or pubescent at base, apically viscid. Basal leaves numerous, linear-oblanceolate, thin, 2--8(--10) cm × 2--4.5 mm, ciliate, base attenuate into short petiole, apex acute; cauline leaves 2 or 3 pairs, sessile, ciliate, base slightly connate, clasping. Flowers in a racemiform thyrse; cymules opposite, with a solitary flower; peduncles very short. Pedicel shorter than or nearly as long as calyx, slender, glabrous; bracts ovate-lanceolate, margin membranous, ciliate. Calyx narrowly campanulate, 7--10 × 2--3 mm, glabrous. Androgynophore 2--3 mm, glabrous. Petal claws narrowly oblanceolate, long ciliate, limbs exserted beyond calyx, white, deeply bifid to middle; lobes linear, apex obtuse; coronal scales minute. Stamens and styles exserted. Styles 3. Capsule ovoid, 7--8 mm. Seeds dark brown, reniform, ca. 1 mm. Fl. Jun--Jul, fr. Aug.

Nei Mongol, Xinjiang, ?Xizang [Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia].

Mountain grasslands; 1600--4200 m.

Silene jenisseensis Willdenow var. viscifera Y. C. Chu; ?S. pubistyla L. H. Zhou; S. stylosa Bunge; ?S. tenuis Willdenow.