Silene acaulis, (L.) Jacq.

90. S. acaulis (L.) Jacq. View in CoL , Enum. Stirp. Vindob. 78 et 242 (1762).

Glabrous, moss-like, mat-forming or pulvinate perennial with short, erect, flowering stems 2-10 cm. Leaves 6-12 mm, linearsubulate; margin cartilaginous, stiffly ciliate. Calyx 7-9 mm, glabrous, campanulate, faintly 10-veined, without lateral veins. Petal-limb emarginate to shallowly bifid, usually deep pink; claw not auriculate; coronal scales small. Capsule subcylindrical, up to twice as long as calyx and longer than pubescent carpophore. 2/2 = 24. Arctic Europe and the higher mountains o f W. & C. Europe. Au Br Bu Cz Fa Fe G a Ge Hb He Hs Is It Ju N o Po Rm Rs (N) Sb Su.

Both unisexual and hermaphrodite plants occur.

Rather variable in habit, size of flower and capsule, capsuleshape, etc. It does not seem possible to define satisfactorily geographical subspecies, although extreme variants can be distinguished in the Alps as follows: