Plant · GBIF taxon 5384754
Moss Campion
Silene acaulisAlso known as Cushion Pink
Moss campion forms tight, hemispherical cushions that insulate the soil underneath, creating a warmer microclimate that traps moisture and supports small alpine invertebrates. These slow-growing evergreen carpets can live for over a century on exposed rocky tundra where harsh winds blow away competing vegetation. In early summer, the dense green mats explode into a mass of star-like pink flowers, usually blooming first on the south-facing side.
AlpineFloweringEvergreen
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil Minerals
Predators
- Reindeer
- Arctic Hares
- Voles
ThreatsClimate change, alpine habitat loss, trampling
HabitatsAlpine tundra, arctic tundra, gravelly scree
Life span30–100+ years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCaryophyllaceae
- SpeciesSilene acaulis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Look for low, dense moss-like carpets with tiny five-petaled pink flowers tightly hugging alpine gravel.
- Support conservation
- Observe from established trails and refrain from stepping on low-growing vegetation in arctic environments.
Responsible observation
- Trail etiquette: Stay on marked paths to prevent trampling fragile cushions, which take decades to recover.
- Compass effect: Observe how flowers often open first on the south side of cushions exposed to winter sun.
Frequent Companion 
Close Relative (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Kieran Roy Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kieran Roy Powell · cc-by
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