Silene sedoides

Silene sedoides is a species of flowering plant belonging to the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). It is found primarily along rocky and sandy coastlines of the Mediterranean Sea. First documented in 1789 from specimens collected in North Africa, this short-lived annual plant grows in the harsh zone just above the high-tide line where few other plants survive. It is characterised by its fleshy, somewhat succulent leaves that help it conserve water in its dry, salty habitat, and by its small white to pink flowers that feature a distinctive dark spot at the base of each petal. The plant's leaves range from spoon-shaped to egg-shaped, and its entire surface is covered with sticky, glandular hairs that may help protect it from the intense Mediterranean sun and sea spray. While most abundant in Greece, Silene sedoides can be found scattered along coastlines from Spain and France in the west to Turkey, Cyprus, and parts of the Middle East in the east. Scientists recognise two different subspecies, with the less common one being found only in a small area of southern Greece.