Caryophyllaceae FAMILY Critically Endangered

Silene cobalticola

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Silene cobalticola is a perennial plant growing from a woody taproot. It produces one or more branched stems up to 1 metre long[ 328 Title African Flowering Plants Database Publication Author Website http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php Publisher Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques. Year 0 ISBN Description Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map. ]. This plant is not utilized, but it has potential for use in phytostabilization, phytoremediation, and phytomining projects. Silene cobalticola is strictly endemic to copper-rich soil in Katanga, DRC. Its habitat is restricted to steppic savannah in cobalt and copper outcrops, which are being destroyed by mining activities, particularly by extraction surface mining. The plant is classified as 'Critically Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2014)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeTropical Africa - southern DR Congo

HabitatSteppe savannah, growing in copper outcrops, possibly also in substrate (often mine debris) disturbed by the mining industry[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. Brushwood; mine excavated material; cobalt quarry[ 328 Title African Flowering Plants Database Publication Author Website http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php Publisher Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques. Year 0 ISBN Description Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map. ].