Silene kingii

This alpine, cushion plant occurs in Wyoming, Utah and Colorado where the main portion of the range is in Wyoming and Utah. It is found frequently but never in great numbers. It is threatened by recreation activities, climate change and introduced mountain goats. Many occurrences need inventory as they haven't been surveyed for many years (dating back to the 1990s and earlier). Information about the reproductive biology is also needed.

Silene kingii is a regional endemic of northeastern Utah, northwestern Wyoming, and Colorado. In Wyoming, it is known from the Absaroka and Wind River ranges in Fremont and Park Counties. An undescribed variety "novum" was considered endemic to the Absaroka and Wind River ranges in Wyoming, however, is no longer considered distinct. There are reports of this species in Montana and in Alberta, Canada, however it is unlikely that this species occurs there (Ladyman 2006).

This species is occurs predominantly in Wyoming and Utah, and is known from 2 occurrences in Colorado. There is another report of it in Colorado that needs confirmation. In Wyoming, it is known from the Absaroka and Wind River ranges. Eighteen of the 20 occurrences of this species in Wyoming occur on Shashone National Forest. In Utah, it is known from a broader distribution: Duschesne, Grand, Puite, Summit, Uinta and Utah counties. All of the occurrences of this species in Utah are found on National Forest Service lands (Wasatch-Cache, Ashley, Fishlake and Manti-La Sal National Forests) (Ladyman 2006).

Warming, as a result of climate change, is a great threat to species occurring only in alpine habitats, such as this species. Another threat is recreation activities which occur near some of the locations (Ladyman 2006). Much is unknown about this species distribution and abundance, and therefore is difficult to assess and Ladyman (2006) notes that this lack of information "obscures its true vulnerability".