Stellaria, L.

Mokni, Ridha El, Guacchio, Emanuele Del & Iamonico, Duilio, 2023, Further insights into the Stellaria media aggregate (Caryophyllaceae, Alsinoideae, Alsineae) in Africa: first reports of S. ruderalis in North Africa and S. cupaniana in Tunisia, with nomenclatural notes on the name Alsine cupaniana, Phytotaxa 584 (4), pp. 264-274 : 272

Diagnostic key to the genus Stellaria taxa in Tunisia:—New records in bold:

1. Petals absent or very short (less than half of the sepal length), seeds ≤ 0.8 mm in diameter, pale yellowish to light brown, stamens 1–3(–5) ................................................................................................................................................................................. S. pallida

1’. Petals usually present (longer than half of the sepal length, sometimes equaling the calyx length), seeds> 0.8 mm in diameter, brown to dark-reddish-brown, stamens usually more than 3 (up to 10).............................................................................................2

2. Petals as long or slightly longer than the sepals; stamens (8–)10 ...................................................................................... S. neglecta

2’. Petals usually shorter than the sepals; stamens usually 3–5(–10) in S. ruderalis ) .............................................................................3

3. Seeds with conical tubercles about 0.14 mm long; flowers usually arranged in dense inflorescences............................. S. ruderalis

3’. Seeds with flat-topped or rounded tubercles or conical tubercles less than 0.10 mm long; flowers arranged in lax inflorescences... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................4

4. Stems with 1(–2) lines of hairs (alternate in successive nodes) or rarely glabrous; seeds 0.8–1.3 mm in diameter, with usually flattopped or rounded tubercles ................................................................................................................................................... S. media

4’. Stems pubescent all round; seeds 1.3–1.5 mm in diameter, with conical tubercles....................................................... S. cupaniana