Caryophyllaceae FAMILY

Silene acaulis

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Silene acaulis is a low-growing, densely tufted evergreen perennial plant growing from a stout taproot with a much-branched woody caudex. The densely-branched stems form a mat or cushion of growth around 5 - 13cm tall and 10 - 45cm in diameter[ 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. , 74 Title Flora of the USSR. Publication Author Komarov. V. L. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Israel Program for Scientific Translation Year 1968 ISBN - Description An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet. , 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. The plant is sometims harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeArctic regions, also in subalpine regions further south in Europe; eastern Siberia and Russian Far East; N. America and Greenland

HabitatArctic and alpine tundra, gravelly, often wet places, rocky ledges; at elevations up to 4,200 metres[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. Mountain ledges and scree in N. Wales, the Lake District and Scotland[ 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. ].