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Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
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| THE PINK FAMILY | |||||||||
| The pink family is found mainly in north temperate regions, though it may also be found in montane tropics and the arctic. These plants are herbaceous perennials that have an erect or reclining growth habit. Some species may be mat forming. Almost all of the members of the pink family have three characteristics in common that make this family easy to identify: swollen nodes, opposite leaves, and notched petals. Several members of this family are used as ornamentals. One of the more well-known examples is Dianthus or the carnation. Many species are also considered weedy. | |||||||||
| MOSS CAMPION | |||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Silene acaulis var. exscapa | |||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | |||||||||
| Moss campion is a branched, cushion-forming plant. The leaves are opposite and sessile. The overlapping leaf bases remain on the stem, even after the leaves have fallen off. The leaves and stems are mostly hairless. Flowers are solitary at the ends of branches and are commonly unisexual on separate plants. The sepals are hairless and purplish and are exceeded by the purple or lavender petals. The fruit is a capsule that opens by six teeth. | |||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | |||||||||
| Moss campion grows on gravel pavement barrens in sand dunes. | |||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | |||||||||
| This species is found in northern Saskatchewan in the Athabasca Plain ecoregion. | |||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | |||||||||
| Moss campion 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. | |||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY MOSS CAMPION | |||||||||
| * Is the plant cushion-forming? * Are the sepals purplish and hairless? * Are the leaves opposite and sessile? * Did you find it in northern Saskatchewan? | |||||||||
| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found moss campion! | |||||||||
