Practical
Plants

Silene nigrescens

a perennial member of the Silene genus in the family Caryophyllaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Silene
Life cycle
perennial
Fertility
Lepidoptera, Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Lepidoptera, Bees

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The flowers are used in Tibetan medicine, they are said to have a bitter and acrid taste with a neutral potency[3]. They are used in the treatment of hearing loss, blockages of the auditory canal and entwined intestines[3].

Product or use
Miscellany

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China and the Himalayas.
Habitat
Alpine meadows, gravelly grasslands, shifting screes; 3000 - 4500 metres in western China and the Himalayas[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in situ.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy outdoors in this country, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors at least in the milder areas of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Prefers a well-drained moisture retentive light loamy soil in a sunny position[1][2].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  3. Tsarong. Tsewang. J. Tibetan Medicinal Plants Tibetan Medical Publications, India 1994-00-00 ISBN 81-900489-0-2

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  4. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

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