Biological Flora of the British Isles: Silene suecica

• Published in: Journal of Ecology
• Main Author: Nagy, Laszlo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2013
• Subjects: Tundra
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12058; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2F1365-2745.12058; https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1365-2745.12058

Summary This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of S ilene suecica (Lodd.) Greuter & Burdet ( Lychnis alpina L.) that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the B iological F lora of the B ritish I sles : distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history and conservation. Silene suecica is native to the British flora, being found in just two confirmed localities (one in north‐west E ngland and the other in S cotland) on open fell‐field and rocky outcrop habitats. It occurs on acid to neutral soil in B ritain and elsewhere its circum‐arctic range. It often indicates elevated concentrations of copper or other heavy metals, whose presence in the soil restricts the growth of other species; therefore, S . suecica is perceived as a stress‐tolerant, competition‐avoiding species. Nonetheless, it also grows in more or less closed alpine grassland in E urope; in N orth A merica and G reenland, it is known from tundra, rocky barrens, gulleys and river outwashes, grassy slopes and sea cliffs. Silene suecica is a (semi‐)rosette plant with a strong taproot, with no capacity for vegetative spread. The main perennating organ is the slightly lignified rootstock/taproot. The rosette has winter‐green leaves; after flowering the rosette leaves die, but new lateral rosettes may be produced in the following year. The longevity of the species is between 3 and 10 years, with the time of first flowering depending on rosette size. Plants that have flowered may die (semelparous individuals), but some are iteroparous and flower again on lateral shoots. Silene suecica produces protandrous hermaphrodite flowers, but self‐pollination may occur. In S cotland about 10% of all plants flower in any year. Pollination is by a range of insects, including flies and bees. Capsules produce ...