Cerastium banaticum (Rochel) Heuff. subsp. banaticum

Posted byTrajche DimitrovskiPosted inUncategorized

Taxonomy: Fam. Caryophyllaceae// Genus: Cerastium// Species: Cerastium banaticum (Rochel) Heuff.// Subspecies: Cerastium banaticum (Rochel) Heuff. subsp. banaticum.

Determined according to the botanical keys provided by Jalas; Sell and Whitehead in Tutin et al. (1964) and Micevski (1993).

Note: The plants from Osogovo have the typical indumentum of subsp. banaticum distinguished by the short, downwards-directing hairs on the upper-most internode of the stem, but show some variation regarding the leaf shape and width. While the leaves in the lower part of the stem are linear up to 2.5 mm wide, in some specimens (Eshterec locality) the leaves in the upper part of the stem are lanceolate, widened towards the base up to 6 mm.

Lifeform: Perennial plant. Hemicryptophyte according to the Raunkiaer system.

Distribution: Native from Southeast Europe to Türkiye according to the distribution information provided by the Plants of the World Online portal, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Habitat: Sparse woods of the Querco-carpinetum orientalis association in the basin of the Zletovska River.

Recorded on two localities: rock cliffs aboove the Estherec Stream (03.05.2026), and Gorge of the Zletovska River (17.05.2026).

Flowering period: Spring (APR, MAY).

Locality: rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River region). Date: 03.05.2026.

Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– habit. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– habit. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– habit. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– habit. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– habit. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– habit. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flowering stems. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flowering stems. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flowering stems. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flowering stems. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flower. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flower. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flower. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flower. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flower. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flower. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flower. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flower. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flower. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– side view of flower and calyx. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– side view of flower and calyx; bracts. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– side view of flower and calyx; bracts. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– side view of flower and calyx; bracts. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– side view of flower and calyx; bracts. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– side view of flower and calyx; bracts. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flowers and bracts. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flowers and bracts. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– pedicel of lowest flower (center) and branches of inflorescence (left and right). Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– uppermost internode of stem below inflorescence. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flowers and uppermost internode of stem below inflorescence. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– uppermost internode of stem below inflorescence. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– stems with dehisced capsules from the previos season. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– capsules from the previos season. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– capsules from the previos season. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– capsules from the previos season. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– upper leaves. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– upper leaves. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– upper leaves. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– stem and leaves. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– stem and leaves. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– stem and leaves. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum–flowering stem with axillary shoots. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum–stems with leaves. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum–stems with leaves. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum–vegetative shoots. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum–plant base. Osogovo – rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin), 03.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.

Scaled images. Specimens from the rocky terrain above Eshterec Stream (Zletovska River basin).

Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum–habit. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum–habit. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum–flowering stems. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum–flowering stems. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum–flowering stems. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum–inflorescences. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum. A, B and C: flowers. D and E: petals. F: calyx with developing capsule. G: developing capsule. Scale in mm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum–lower leaves. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum–upper leaves. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum–upper leaves. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– hairs of uppermost internode of stem. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.

Locality: Gorge of the Zletovska River. Date: 17.03.2026.

Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– habit. Osogovo – gorge of the Zletovska River, 17.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– habit. Osogovo – gorge of the Zletovska River, 17.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– habit. Osogovo – gorge of the Zletovska River, 17.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flowering stem. Osogovo – gorge of the Zletovska River, 17.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flower. Osogovo – gorge of the Zletovska River, 17.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flower. Osogovo – gorge of the Zletovska River, 17.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– side view of flowers with calyx; bracts. Osogovo – gorge of the Zletovska River, 17.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– bracts and uppermost internode of stem below inflorescence. Osogovo – gorge of the Zletovska River, 17.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– stems with leaves. Osogovo – gorge of the Zletovska River, 17.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– stems with leaves. Osogovo – gorge of the Zletovska River, 17.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.

Scaled images. Specimen from the gorge of the Zletovska River.

Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– habit. Scale in cm. Specimen from the gorge of the Zletovska River, 17.05.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flowering stems. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flowering stem. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flowering stem. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– flowering stem. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– vegetative stem. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– vegetative stem. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– vegetative stem. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum– width of leaves. A: uppermost leaves of flowering stem. B: upper leaves of flowering stem. C: lower leaves of flowering stem. D: leaves of vegetative shoots. Scale in mm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.

References:

Cerastium banaticum. Marhold, K. 2011+: Caryophyllaceae. – In: Euro+Med PlantBase – the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity. Published at https://europlusmed.org/. https://europlusmed.org/cdm_dataportal/taxon/0f41a8cf-e9a1-4403-a3f9-475bad713bd1 [Accessed 16.05.2026].

Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum. Marhold, K. 2011+: Caryophyllaceae. – In: Euro+Med PlantBase – the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity. Published at https://europlusmed.org/. https://europlusmed.org/cdm_dataportal/taxon/36855e44-0c23-4b68-a380-cbb98eadfda3 [Accessed 16.05.2026].

Cerastium banaticum subsp. banaticum. Plants of the World Online portal, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77228659-1 [Accessed 16.05.2026].

Cerastium banaticum (Rochel) Heuff. Plants of the World Online portal, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:152092-1 [Accessed 16.05.2026].

Jalas, J. (perennial spp.); Sell, P. D. and Whitehead, F. H (annual spp.). 1964. Cerastium L. In Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M., & Webb, D. A. (eds.), Flora Europaea. Volume 1. Lycopodiaceae to Platanaceae. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 136–145.

Micevski, K. 1993. Cerastium L., The Flora of the Republic of Macedonia. Vol. 1, Book 2. Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, pp. 254–272.