Abstract
Seed morphology of fifteen species of the genus Silene: Caryophyllaceae has been examined by light and scanning microscope. Viz.,
Silene arenosa C.Koch, Silene brahuica Boiss., Silene citrina Boiss., Silene coeli-rosea (L.) Gordon, Silene conoidea L., Silene
falconeriana Benth., Silene gonosperma (Rupr.) Bocquet, Silene indica Roxb. ex Oth., Silene longisepala E. Nasir, Silene
moorcroftiana Wall ex Benth, Silene pseudo-verticillata E. Nasir, Silene staintonii S.A.Ghazanfer, Silene tenuis Willd., Silene
viscosa (L.) pers., and Silene vulgaris (Moech) Garcke.
Seed generally small-medium, 0.3 -2.0 mm long, light-dark brown, black, light green or greyish green in colour. Shape mostly
reniform or orbicular , rarely pyriform, mostly laterally compressed, hilum distinct, surface generally striate with distinct groove in
between striae , striae broad-elongated, finely scabrate, mostly without tubercule rarely tuberculated. On the basis of surface pattern 16
species are divided into two seed types. Viz., Type-I: Silene arenosa and Type-II: Silene longisephala. Key is prepared based on
Seed morphological characters. Seed morphology of the genus Silene is significantly helful at the specific level.
