Silene nigrescens
Family: Caryophyllaceae
What it is like
Silene nigrescens is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in). The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies), bees. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
Height (m): 0.1
Where it is found
Alpine meadows, gravelly grasslands, shifting screes; 3000 - 4500 metres in western China and the Himalayas.
E. Asia - China and the Himalayas.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 2
The flowers are used in Tibetan medicine, they are said to have a bitter and acrid taste with a neutral potency. They are used in the treatment of hearing loss, blockages of the auditory canal and entwined intestines.
Miscellany: Various medicinal actions that need more clarification.
Other
Rating:
Miscellany: A rag-bag of items that are difficult to categorise.
How it is grown
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy outdoors in this country, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors at least in the milder areas of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Prefers a well-drained moisture retentive light loamy soil in a sunny position.
Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in situ.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness:
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Dry, moist