Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Moss Campion
Silene acaulis
Pink family (Caryophyllaceae)

When in bloom, Moss Campion (Silene acaulis) is hard to miss, producing brilliant high country floral displays. It is a common, and widespread plant found throughout mountainous western North America. Silene acaulis was one of the primary plants studied in the early 1950s in Rocky Mountain National Park by Robert Griggs. (See his 1956, "Competition and Succession on a Rocky Mountain ".) His studies helped reveal the intricate complexity of arctic- vegetation. Griggs showed that Silene acaulis is a pioneer species that, for a plant, grows rapidly in denuded disturbed areas, commonly to ten inches in diameter in about twenty years. Most pioneering species of the reproduce by seeds and it is the cushion of Silene acaulis that very often provides rooting ground for these seeds.

Moss Campion is commonly found near white Phlox (Phlox condensate)and various white chickweeds, all very tiny plants with masses of very tiny flowers, very tiny leaves, and very pleasant fragrances. Moss Campion's notched flower petals are pinked on their tips, a characteristic of a number of species in its family: the Pink Family.


©2009 Anthony Mendoza

Description

, 1-3" tall, forming cushions 2-10" in diameter. Leaves mainly , short, narrow and bright green in color. Flowers are pink-purple tubular with 5 spreading petals. Each petal is notched into 2 . Flowers borne singly on stems, often profuse in number. are 3-chambered .

Field Marks

Green cushions of bright green, short, narrow leaves and pink-purple 5-petalled flowers.

© Al Schneider

fellfield -- an alpine tundra region of high altitude mountains. Fellfields are typically populated by cushion plants.

A perennial plant lives and blooms for many years.

lobe -- A rounded parts of a leaf (or other organ).

A herb is a plant whose stems die back to the ground in the winter.

capsule -- a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. In most cases the capsule splits apart to release seeds.

tundra -- Land above tree line characterized by a short growing season, intense sun and wind, thin soils, very high snow fall and high rain fall. Contains low growing sedges, grasses, dwarf shrubs and herbs.

basal -- at the base, situated or attached at the base.

linear -- Long and very narrow like a blade of grass.

fruit -- any seed-bearing structure in flowering plants. It is formed from the ovary after flowering.

alpine -- above the tree line. Thin soil, rocks, short growing season, frost, winter snow.