A NEW RECORD OF SILENE L. SPECIES BELONG TO THE FAMILY CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Abstract

In the presented research, four recorded species of the genus Silene belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae attained as newly added species to science in the Iraqi flora. The current work involved the study of the morphological features of the vegetative and floral parts of these new species recorded in Iraq. The newly identified species were S. muscipula, S. nocturna, S. latifolia, and S. sedoides, belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae. The collected samples of the different landraces came from separate locations in the Northern Iraqi Mountains. The study also recorded information on locations, longitude, latitude, and collection dates. The diagnosis of four species and their naming relied on flora from neighboring countries, such as the Flora Iranica and Flora of South Africa. After confirmation, the description assessment of vital parts of the new plant species included the shape, leaf venation, length, shape, and calyx tube venation, the modification shapes, appendages of coronal scales petals, and pistil structures. The plant part images of the different landraces also enhanced the morphological characteristics of these new species under study.