SILENE ACAULIS (L.) Jacq. – Moss Campion

Family: Caryophyllaceae Juss.

Distribution: It is an arctic-alpine species – Pyrenees, Alps, Apennines, Carpathian, Arctic Europe, Asia and Northern America.
Habitat: It grows on rocks, screes and stony slopes, above tree line.
Description: A perennial herb with numerous stems, 2–10 cm high, cushion-like. The leaves are linear to lanceolate, sessile, pointed. The single flowers are short-stalked, calyx is bell-shaped, corolla bright to dark rose. Flowers from June to Septembre. The fruit is an ovoid capsule. A very variable species.
Endangering and Protection: The Moss Campion is a protected plant in some countries (A, SK).
Note: This is a very attractive plant for rock gardens.


These images were taken in Austria, Raxalpe (date: 19. 6. 2004).