Taxonomy and chorology of Silene section Otites (Caryophyllaceae)

As a result of cultivation and breeding experiments, within the Silene section Otites two groups are recognised, viz. the Cyri group (seven genetically isolated species in Europe) and the Otites group (six partly interfertile species). The combination S. velebitica (Degen) Wrigley is proposed, and two new taxa are described: 5. otites (L.) Wibel subsp. hungarica Wrigley and S. colpophylla Wrigley. S. cyri Schischkin, S. donetzica Kleopow and 5. chersonensis (Zapal.) Kleopow are accepted as good species. S. X pseudotites Besser ex Reichenb. (S. colpophylla X otites) merits a binomial as occupying alone an extensive area south of the Alps. Old taxonomical and nomenclatural confusions, largely centred around S. wolgensis and S. pseudotites, are demonstrated. In several cases the synonymy has been critically revised.