In contrast with the lush, colourful showiness of Silene acaulis, here is another local (and circumpolar) alpine that pretty much represents the other end of the scale!
Silene uralensis (formerly Lychnis apetala; ssp. attenuata in our area) is nowhere common here (that I know of?), and is a delight to find. Its subtle charm shows a definite flair for understatement! The rocky alpine slope substrate that it prefers is clear from the photos. It ranges in height up to perhaps 10cm (when the seed pods elongate upwards), but those in the rockiest, harshest places are often only ~5 centimeters tall.
So, tell me... Is this a cool plant, or what?? 8) 8)
