Genus: Silene
Genus description:
Herbs or small shrubs of varied habit. Flowers 5-merous. Epicalyx absent. Calyx-tube with (5-)10-30 veins and 5 short teeth. Limb of petal distinct from claw; stamens 10; styles usually 3 (sometimes 4 on the same plant), more rarely 5. Fruit a capsule with variably-developed basal septa (absent in species sometimes treated as a seperate genus, Melanrium), opening by 6 (more rarely 8 or 10) teeth, twice the number of styles; carophore present. (..) Seeds variable, but never with a tuft of hairs.(..) Ripe seed is necesary to confirm the identification in some groups(annuals)
Species and images:
