Cucubalus otites Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 415. 1753; Silene pseudo-otites Besser ex Reichenbach.

Herbs biennial, 20--40 cm tall, villous throughout. Roots robust. Stem solitary, erect, simple or sparsely branched. Basal leaves spatulate, 4--6 cm × 5--12 mm, base attenuate into long petiole, apex obtuse or mucronulate; cauline leaves linear-oblanceolate, small, narrow. Flowers unisexual (plants dioecious), in a racemiform thyrse with many-flowered cymules. Pedicel 4--10 mm, slender, glabrous. Calyx campanulate, 4--6 mm, glabrous. Androgynophore obsolete. Petal claws glabrous; limbs greenish, linear-oblanceolate, small, margin entire; coronal scales absent. Stamens and styles slightly exserted. Styles 3. Capsule ovoid or subglobose, 3.5--5(--6) mm, slightly longer than calyx. Seeds reniform, small. Fl. Jun--Jul, fr. Aug. 2n = 24.

N Xinjiang [Europe].