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Silene acaulis

(L.) Jacq.

Moss Campion

G5Secure Found in 146 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.130177
Element CodePDCAR0U010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCaryophyllales
FamilyCaryophyllaceae
GenusSilene
Other Common Names
Cushion Pink (EN) moss campion (EN) Silène acaule (FR)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic Comments
FNA (vol. 5, 2005) lumps subspecific taxa.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-11-01
Change Date1984-09-06
Edition Date2024-11-01
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Silene acaulis is a perennial forb occurring in arctic and alpine tundra on gravel soils, in wet places, and on rocky ledges of North America, Greenland, Europe, and Russia. There are over 1,500 occurrences of this species, which are potentially threatened by climate change, development, invasive species, rights-of-way maintenance, recreation, and other threats in some places. Little is known about threats or trends, but with a large range extent, a high number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, Silene acaulis is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Silene acaulis is a widespread species occurring in North America, Greenland, Europe, and Russia (POWO 2024). In North America, it occurs in Alaska and Nunavut south to New Mexico and Arizona, and also in eastern North America from Ontario to Newfoundland and Labrador south to New York (FNA 2014). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations collected between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, there are estimated to be over 2,000 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Silene acaulis is potentially threatened by development, invasive species, rights-of-way maintenance, recreation, and other threats in some places. Climate change is also a concern, because this species can occur on high elevation peaks, and there are limited elevational gains for shifting habitat. There is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this taxon.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

In North America, Silene acaulis occurs in "arctic and alpine tundra, gravelly, often wet places, [and] rocky ledges" (FNA 2005).
Terrestrial Habitats
AlpineTundraBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
IdahoSNRYes
New YorkSNRYes
New HampshireS1Yes
ColoradoS4Yes
OregonSNRYes
NevadaS2Yes
MontanaS4Yes
UtahSNRYes
WyomingS4Yes
MaineSXYes
New MexicoSNRYes
WashingtonSNRYes
AlaskaSNRYes
ArizonaSNRYes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
Nova ScotiaS1Yes
QuebecS4Yes
SaskatchewanS2Yes
OntarioS1Yes
LabradorS4Yes
NunavutS5Yes
Yukon TerritoryS5Yes
Island of NewfoundlandS3Yes
AlbertaS4Yes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
Northwest TerritoriesS4Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (146)
Alaska (37)
AreaForestAcres
Boston BarChugach National Forest53,617
Brabazon AdditionTongass National Forest498,819
CalderTongass National Forest9,857
ChichagofTongass National Forest555,858
Chugach-12Chugach National Forest8,116
Chugach-13Chugach National Forest13,337
ClevelandTongass National Forest189,447
College FiordChugach National Forest1,130,818
ConeTongass National Forest128,454
Copper River WetlandsChugach National Forest85,972
Douglas IslandTongass National Forest28,065
El CapitanTongass National Forest26,693
Fidalgo-GravinaChugach National Forest257,968
Freshwater BayTongass National Forest44,933
Game CreekTongass National Forest54,469
Hoonah SoundTongass National Forest79,764
Johnson PassChugach National Forest152,508
Juneau UrbanTongass National Forest101,581
Juneau-Skagway IcefieldTongass National Forest1,187,268
Kenai LakeChugach National Forest213,172
Kenai MountainsChugach National Forest306,600
MissionaryTongass National Forest16,675
Nellie JuanChugach National Forest713,697
North BaranofTongass National Forest314,089
North KupreanofTongass National Forest114,660
Port AlexanderTongass National Forest120,681
Prince William Sound Is.Chugach National Forest118,698
RedoubtTongass National Forest68,347
ResurrectionChugach National Forest224,615
RhineTongass National Forest23,010
Roaded DonutChugach National Forest968
Salmon BayTongass National Forest22,793
Sheridan GlacierChugach National Forest224,683
Sitka UrbanTongass National Forest112,003
SpiresTongass National Forest533,746
Taku-SnettishamTongass National Forest664,928
Twenty MileChugach National Forest198,775
Colorado (8)
AreaForestAcres
Bristol HeadRio Grande NF46,087
Comanche Peak Adjacent AreaArapaho & Roosevelt NFs44,158
Dome PeakRoutt NF35,716
HermosaSan Juan NF148,103
Pole Mountain / Finger MesaRio Grande NF43,863
San MiguelSan Juan NF64,263
Storm PeakSan Juan NF57,617
Troublesome SouthRoutt NF47,359
Idaho (4)
AreaForestAcres
HoodooNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest153,868
Italian PeakCaribou-Targhee National Forest141,158
Lemhi RangeSalmon-Challis National Forest308,533
PalisadesCaribou-Targhee National Forest122,002
Montana (27)
AreaForestAcres
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLolo National Forest118,485
Bmss Ra 1485Flathead National Forest334,275
BridgerGallatin National Forest45,059
Burnt MountainCuster National Forest10,698
Cabin Creek Wildlife Management Area OcdGallatin National Forest35,048
Cabinet Face East #671Kootenai National Forest50,326
Crazy MountainGallatin National Forest82,093
East PioneerBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest145,082
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
Garfield MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest41,891
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study AreaGallatin National Forest143,991
Italian PeakBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest90,401
Line Creek PlateauCuster National Forest24,825
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Middle Fork Judith WsaLewis and Clark National Forest81,131
Middle Mtn. / Tobacco RootsBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest96,487
Mt. BaldyHelena National Forest16,362
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
Mt. JeffersonBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest4,482
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
North Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest52,227
Proposed Line Creek PrnaCuster National Forest389
Red Lodge Creek HellroaringCuster National Forest17,210
Scotchman Peaks (MT)Kootenai National Forest53,909
Storm LakeBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest9,324
West PioneerBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest248,631
Nevada (6)
AreaForestAcres
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
Ruby - MarshHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest10,164
Ruby - ThompsonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,289
Snake - Peacock CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,069
South SchellHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest125,614
New Hampshire (5)
AreaForestAcres
Dartmouth RangeWhite Mountain National Forest9,233
Great Gulf Ext.White Mountain National Forest15,110
Pemigewasset ExtWhite Mountain National Forest15,840
Presidential - Dry River ExtWhite Mountain National Forest10,555
Wild RiverWhite Mountain National Forest46,878
New Mexico (6)
AreaForestAcres
Columbine - Hondo Wilderness Study AreaCarson National Forest43,739
Latir PeakCarson National Forest3,573
PecosCarson National Forest13,436
Pecos WS RiverSanta Fe National Forest5,396
Thompson PeakSanta Fe National Forest33,001
Wheeler Peak WildernessCarson National Forest2,677
Oregon (3)
AreaForestAcres
Hurricane CreekWallowa-Whitman National Forest1,606
Little SheepWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,238
Upper Catherine CreekWallowa-Whitman National Forest6,446
Utah (14)
AreaForestAcres
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
418028Uinta National Forest34,002
418029Uinta National Forest15,673
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
Bullion - DelanoFishlake National Forest14,917
City CreekFishlake National Forest13,939
High Uintas (UT)Wasatch-Cache National Forest102,398
Horse Mountain - Mans PeakManti-Lasal National Forest22,159
LakesWasatch-Cache National Forest121,967
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest874
Mt. OlympusWasatch-Cache National Forest9,982
Tushar MountainFishlake National Forest39,992
Twin PeaksWasatch-Cache National Forest6,157
White PineWasatch-Cache National Forest1,942
Washington (13)
AreaForestAcres
Boulder RiverMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest32,563
Glacier Peak JMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest26,482
Glacier Peak LMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest14,084
Liberty BellOkanogan National Forest108,495
Long SwampOkanogan National Forest66,344
Mt. Baker MaMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest24,847
Mt. Baker Noisy - DiobsudMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest56,039
Mt. Baker NorthMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest16,873
Mt. Baker WestMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest25,390
Pasayten RimOkanogan National Forest17,074
QuilceneOlympic National Forest18,656
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
TeanawayWenatchee National Forest72,849
Wyoming (23)
AreaForestAcres
Bear RocksBighorn National Forest25,023
Beartooth Proposed WildernessShoshone National Forest16,837
Cloud Peak ContiguousBighorn National Forest113,757
French CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest5,928
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
Hideout CreekBighorn National Forest10,096
Horse Creek MesaBighorn National Forest77,808
Libby FlatsMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest11,107
Little BighornBighorn National Forest133,949
Little Sheep MountainBridger-Teton National Forest14,192
Middle ForkShoshone National Forest51,772
Middle ForkMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest13,238
Mosquito Lake - Seven LakesBridger-Teton National Forest51,950
PalisadesTarghee National Forest1,121
Phillips RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest10,108
ReefShoshone National Forest16,817
Rock CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest18,874
Snowy RangeMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest29,660
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre RiverBridger-Teton National Forest166,097
Warm Spring CreekShoshone National Forest6,216
West Slope TetonsTarghee National Forest47,448
West Slope WindsBridger-Teton National Forest143,252
References (5)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2005. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 5. Magnoliophyta: Caryophyllidae: Caryophyllales, Polygonales, and Plumbaginales. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. vii + 656 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  3. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).