Studies on five Silene L. Taxa in Saint Catherine Protectorate, South Sinai, Egypt

This work aims to document morphological and anatomical features of Silene L. taxa in Saint Catherine protectorate as well  as  their distribution.  Five  Silene  taxa are investigated representing  17% of all Egyptian  Silene; three of these  taxa are endemic.  Investigated  taxa  grow in 5 microhabitats (slope, gorges terraces, farsh (basin) and wadis) either alone or associated with other species. The total populations of three Silene  taxa (S. odontopetala Fenzl subsp.  congesta Boiss, S. leucophylla  Boiss,  and  S. oreosinaica  Chowdhuri; the latter two are endemics) were represented by a low number of individuals (60−140) and are threatened by abiotic and biotic risks which may lead to their extinction