Some similarities to : Purple Saxifrage which also prefers to grow on mountains and to Fairy Foxglove (Erinus alpinus) which is grown on garden walls.
Not to be confused with: Mossy Saxifrage [a plant of similar name].
Similar habitat and form to: Cyphel (Minuartia sedoides) in that it grows in the Scottish Highlands and is a low mat-forming plant, but Cyphel has yellowish-green flowers.
Distinguishing Feature :
Moss Campion is a flower of the high mountains, restricting itself to a small section of mountain tops and rock ledges and screes in Snowdonia and possibly some Cumbrian Fells, but the greater proportion is to be found in the western mountains of northern Scotland, or near sea-level at the northernmost extremities. The tiny narrow leaves form a matted cushion. A very attractive plant, but often difficult to find.
It is a low-growing plant no higher than four inches. The flowers are rosy pink with five petals, some half inch across. The petals have a slight notch on the rounded the tip.
The fruit forms a 5-pointed dark-brown star which is held up on a pedestal.
|