Silene salicifolia C. L. Tang

This species and the following three are clearly closely related. Tang (Acta Bot. Yunnan. 2: 439. 1980) likened S. salicifolia to S. pterosperma Maximowicz (Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 11: 67. 1889). We have not seen type material of S. pterosperma, but it is likely that that name applies to either S. hupehensis or S. salicifolia .

Herbs perennial. Stems caespitose, ascending, 20--30 cm, sparsely branched, glabrous. Leaves lanceolate, 5--7 × 0.6--1.2 cm, both surfaces glabrous, margin ciliate with multicellular hairs, midvein prominent, base cuneate, apex acuminate. Dichasial cymes few flowered. Pedicel 1.5--3 cm, slender, ± viscid; bracts linear-lanceolate, nearly membranous, 5--10 mm, margin ciliate. Calyx campanulate, 1--1.4 cm × ca. 4.5 mm, glabrous; longitudinal veins violet, cohering at apex; calyx teeth triangular, 3--5 mm, apex acute. Androgynophore ca. 4 mm, pubescent. Petals ca. 2 cm; claws slightly exserted beyond calyx, ca. 1.2 cm, glabrous; auricles orbicular, obscurely laciniate; limbs pale red or lilac, broadly obovate, ca. 7 mm, bifid deeply to middle, sometimes with one small lobe on each lateral side; coronal scales nearly flabellate, ca. 1.5 × 2 mm. Stamens and styles included; filaments glabrous. Styles 3. Capsule ovoid, 8--10 mm, shorter than calyx. Seeds yellow-brown, reniform, ca. 1.2 mm, minutely tuberculate, with prominent, spinose protuberances abaxially. Fl. Aug, fr. Sep--Oct.

Sichuan.

* Stony forest substrates; 2100--2300 m.