Flora of North America species comparison

erect, simple or few-branched proximal to inflorescence, 0.4–6 dm, glabrous.

erect or ascending, seldom sprawling, decumbent, or prostrate, simple or branched.

cauline, proximal leaves with clasping bases, gradually transitional to distal leaves with ± rounded bases;

blade linear-lanceolate to narrowly oblong, 1.5–7 cm × (1–)3–16 mm, apex obtuse to acute in proximal leaves, acute in distal leaves, glaucous.

opposite, rarely whorled, connate proximally, petiolate (basal leaves) or often sessile, not stipulate;

blade linear or subulate to ovate, not succulent or rarely so (Silene).

terminal cymes, thyrses, fascicles, or capitula, or flowers solitary, axillary;

bracts foliaceous, scarious, or absent;

involucel bracteoles present or often absent.

10–35 mm, glabrous.

present or rarely flowers sessile or subsessile.

calyx 2.5–5 mm, lobes glabrous, apex obtuse or mucronate;

petals white, occasionally with pinkish purple veins, or rarely pink, 6–15 mm.

bisexual or seldom unisexual (the species then often dioecious), often conspicuous;

perianth and androecium hypogynous;

sepals 5, connate (1/4–)1/2+ their lengths into cup or tube, (1–)5–40(–62) mm, apex not hooded or awned;

petals absent or 5, often showy, white to pink or red, usually clawed, auricles absent or sometimes present, coronal appendages sometimes present, blade apex entire or emarginate to 2-fid, sometimes dentate to lacinate;

stamens (5 or) 10 (absent in pistillate flowers), in 1 or 2 whorls, arising from base of ovary;

staminodes absent or rarely 1–10;

ovary 1-locular, sometimes 2-locular proximally (Vaccaria), or 3–5-locular (some Silene);

styles 2–3(–5) (absent in staminate flowers), distinct;

stigmas 2–3(–5) (absent in staminate flowers).

capsules, opening by 4–6(–10) valves or teeth;

carpophore usually present.

globose.

coats coarsely tuberculate.

4–150(–500+), reddish to gray or often brown or black, usually reniform and laterally compressed to globose, sometimes oblong or shield-shaped and dorsiventrally compressed;

embryo peripheral and curved, or central and straight.

= 7, 10, 12, [13?,] 14, 15, 17, [18].

= 34 (Europe).