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Silene acaulis
  • Moss Campion

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

248px
Niche
  • Soil surface
    Soil surface
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Ground cover
    Ground cover
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 2
    Zone 2
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Silene acaulis has 0 edible uses listed
Silene acaulis has 0 material uses listed
Silene acaulis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

Although no mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, it does contain saponins. Although toxic, these substances are very poorly absorbed by the body and so tend to pass through without causing harm. They are also broken down by thorough cooking. Saponins are found in many plants, including several that are often used for food, such as certain beans. It is advisable not to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K].

Edible uses

Notes

Plant - cooked[1][2]. Consumed as a vegetable in Iceland and in Arctic and Alpine regions[3]. The raw root skins have been used for food[4]. This report refers to the sub-species S. acaulis exscapa. (All.)DC.

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

Plants form a rooting carpet and can be grown as a ground cover when planted about 25cm apart each way[5].

Unknown part

Soap

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The plant has been used in the treatment of children with colic[4].

Unknown part

Stomachic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Soil surface

Ecological Functions

Ground cover

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Silene acaulis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Easily grown in a light soil in full sun, doing best on a moraine[6]. Prefers a cool climate, plants can be difficult to bring into flower in the garden[7]. Polymorphic[6]. The sub-species S. acaulis saxatilis flowers more freely than the type[5].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Silene acaulis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Silene acaulis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Silene acaulis
Genus
Silene
Family
Caryophyllaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4]
Medicinal uses
[4]
Material uses & Functions
[5]
Botanic
[8]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Ground cover
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
2
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Soil surface
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    evergreen
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.05 x 0.15 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Lepidoptera, Insects
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Silene Acaulis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Silene Acaulis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Silene Acaulis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Silene Acaulis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Silene Acaulis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Silene Acaulis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Silene Acaulis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Silene Acaulis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Silene Acaulis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Silene Acaulis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Silene Acaulis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Silene Acaulis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Silene Acaulis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Silene Acaulis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.3 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons ISBN 0-460-12609-1 (1990-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    7. ? Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
    8. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

    "image:Silene Acaulis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Silene_acaulis&oldid=80881"
    Facts about "Silene acaulis"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyCaryophyllaceae +
    Belongs to genusSilene +
    Functions asGround cover +
    Has binomial nameSilene acaulis +
    Has common nameMoss Campion +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partLeaves +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeLepidoptera + and Insects +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone2 +
    Has imageSilene Acaulis.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useSoap +
    Has mature height0.05 +
    Has mature width0.15 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useStomachic +
    Has primary imageSilene Acaulis.jpg +
    Has search namesilene acaulis + and moss campion +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy + and Loamy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameSilene acaulis +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheSoil surface +
    Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedNo +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Silene acaulis +, Silene acaulis + and Silene acaulis +