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Silene acaulis was one of the primary alpine plants studied in the early 1950s in Rocky Mountain National Park by Robert Griggs. (See his 1956, "Competition and Succession on a Rocky Mountain Fellfield".) He based his study on the premise that "only when we understand the ecology of individual arctic or alpine species can we synthesize an understanding of arctic-alpine vegetation". His studies helped reveal the intricate complexity of arctic-alpine vegetation. The first species he discussed in "Competition and Succession..." (and with more detail than for any other species) was Silene acaulis. Following are a few of his revealing observations about Silene acaulis: |
Silene
acaulis (Moss Campion) and Phlox condensata (Alpine Phlox) |
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Silene
acaulis variety subacaulescens (Moss Campion) Caryophyllaceae (Pink Family) Alpine. Tundra. Summer, fall. Moss Campion grows on alpine tundra in spreading tufts of moss-like
green. Barely above the tight cushion of tiny leaves, an array of five-petaled
pink/lavender flowers arises and, with normal precipitation, often completely
covers the green cushion. Some studies show, though, that flowers do not occur until the plant is about 20 years old.
Silene acaulis is commonly found near white
Alpine Phlox and various white Chickweeds, all very tiny plants with
masses of very tiny flowers, very tiny leaves, and very pleasant
fragrances. The Silene genus was named by Linnaeus in 1753, and the name is, according to the Flora of North America, "probably derived from "Silenus", the intoxicated foster father of the Greek god Bacchus, [god of wine] who was described as covered with foam; perhaps this alludes to the viscid secretion covering many species [in the Silene genus]". In 1753 Linnaeus named this species Cucubalus acaulis. The present name, Silene acaulis, was given in 1762 and is variously ascribed to either Linnaeus or Joseph von Jacquin. "A caulis", Latin and Greek for "without stem", is common botanical nomenclature and a fairly common specific epithet. |
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Silene acaulis variety subacaulescens (Moss Campion) Alpine. Tundra. Summer, fall. Leaves are short, bright green, and very narrow. Flower petals are notched, i.e., "pinked", on their tips -- thus the common family name, Pink Family. |
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Silene acaulis
variety subacaulescens (Moss Campion) Alpine. Tundra. Summer, fall. Silene acaulis is a lovely, common, and wide-spread plant found throughout mountainous western Canada, the United States, and much of Europe. |
Range map © John Kartesz,
County Color Key
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Range map for Silene acaulis |