Silene italica

In English, it goes by the common name Italian catchfly. While in Denmark it is called Italiensk limurt and in Germany it is called Italienisches Leimkraut. ==Etymology==

Silene is the feminine form of Silenus, an Ancient Greek woodland deity who was the companion and tutor to the wine god Dionysus. Italica is the feminine form of Italicus, meaning "of Italy" == Subspecies ==

The following is a list of subspecies for S. Italica. • Silene italica subsp. italica • Silene italica subsp. peloponnesiaca • Silene italica subsp. sicula • Silene italica subsp. coutinhoi • Silene italica subsp. nemoralis • Silene italica subsp. puberula ==Characteristics==

It can grow up to 40 cm or 80 cm high and the stems are erect. The species has kidney-shaped seeds. The petals on the flowers can be pink, white, or yellow. Sexual system It is gynodioecious–gynomonoecious and has a low frequency of female plants. Gynomonoecious individuals are common in the species and make up to 40% of the population. Floral scent A study from 2002 found that both terpenoids and benzenoids were dominating over the floral scent of S. Italica. The study also found that chemical composition of ''S. Italica's'' floral scent is • 2.2% benzyl alcohol • 9% benzyl acetate • 14.5% linalool • 9% methylbenzoate ==Distribution and habitat==

Plants of the World Online says is native to places like Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Italy, Spain, Iran, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Ukraine, Yugoslavia, Palestine, Turkmenistan, Romania, and France and that it is present in Corsica, Denmark, Great Britain, and Germany but not native. Throughout the Mediterranean region, S. Italica occurs in hedges as well as open woodlands. In southern France it is commonly found in the garrigue. ==References==