Species: Silene acaulis var. exscapa (All.) DC.

comments | credits | copyright

Back to: Plants at Risk in Saskatchewan

Silene acaulis var. exscapa (All.) DC.

Species Image Gallery
(opens in a new window)

TAXONOMY

Family:

Caryophyllaceae

Genus:

Silene

Species Synonyms:

Silene acaulis ssp. arctica A. &D. Löve

Common Names:

moss campion

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

Yukon Territory - Northwest Territories - Arctic Island, south to southern British Columbia - southwestern Alberta - northwestern Saskatchewan - Hudson Bay - eastern Quebec - Newfoundland

Saskatchewan:

northwestern Saskatchewan; Lake Athabasca

Ecoregion:

Athabasca Plain

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

gravel pavement barrens in sand dunes

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Threatened

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 S2

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Silene acaulis var. exscapa is threatened in Saskatchewan because it is rare or uncommon and is regionally restricted to one general area of the province. Most local populations are small. No threats are known or anticipated at this time.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

3 – 6 cm

Roots:

taproot

Stems:

cushion-forming, tufted, much branched

Leaves:

opposite, sessile, overlapping leaf bases persistent, blade 4 – 12 mm long, 2 – 3 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, mostly glabrous

Inflorescence:

flowers solitary at ends of branches

Flowers:

commonly imperfect and dioecious; calyx to 10 mm long, cup-shaped, purplish; corolla exceeding calyx, oblong to oblanceolate, rounded, notched at apex, purple to lavender

Fruits:

capsule barely exserted, 3-loculed, teeth 6

*KEY TO SILENE* IN SASKATCHEWAN**

1 Calyx more or less glabrous, if at all pubescent, not glandular	2
1 Calyx pubescent, may be glandular	6

2 Plants cushion-forming; leaves to 1.5 cm long, linear, densely crowded and ciliolate; flowers purple or lavender	S. acaulis var. exscapa
2 Plants not cushion-forming; leaves not as above; flowers white or pink	3

3 Petals pinkish; stem glutinous	S. antirrhina
3 Petals white; stem not glutinous	4

4 Calyx 4 – 5 mm long, 10-nerved	S. sibirica
4 Calyx 8 – 12 mm long, 20-nerved, at least at base	5

5 Calyx inflated at maturity, 20-nerved, nerves connected entire length by a network of veinlets, not constricted at mouth, papery textured; inflorescence open	S. vulgaris
5 Calyx not inflated at maturity, 20-nerved, 10 nerves long, 10 short, veinlets hardly forming a network, calyx constricted at mouth, firm textured; inflorescence narrow	S. cserei

6 Styles 3; capsule opening by 6 teeth	7
6 Styles 5 (4); capsule opening by 5 or 10 teeth	9

7 Calyx nerves 20 – 30	S. conoidea
7 Calyx nerves 10	8

8 Calyx 15 – 30 mm long; corolla claws > 12 mm	S. noctiflora
8 Calyx 5 – 8 mm long; corolla claws 6 – 10 mm long	S. menziesii var. menziesii

9 Calyx 5 – 8 mm long; stems generally branched, lax	S. menziesii var. menziesii
9 Calyx > 1 cm; stems branched or unbranched, erect	10

10 Plants dioecious	S. pratensis
10 Plants not dioecious	S. drummondii var. drummondii