Common Name:

General Information

Silene velutina is a herbaceous perennial plant with erect stems forming a loose clump of growth; it can grow 25 - 60cm tall
The plant is harvested from the wild for use in commercial cosmetic preparations.
Silene velutina has a restricted range, being found onlt in southern Corsica and northern Sardinia. It is impacted by invasive plants and the predation of rats, whilst its habitat is continuously declining due to tourism activities and eutrophication from marine bird colonies. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Mediterranean - southern Corsica, northern Sardinia

Habitat

Coastal calcareous (limestone) and granite cliffs[]. Heathland and scrub, sparsely vegetated land.

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.40 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally grow well in a sunny position in a well-drained but moisture-retentive fertile soil[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

An extract of the whole plant is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.