Androsace Ciliata
ExplorePlants
Androsace Ciliata
androsace ciliata
Androsace ciliata, commonly known as the Ciliate Rock-jasmine, is a resilient and enchanting alpine perennial endemic to the high-altitude rocky landscapes of the Pyrenees. This remarkable plant thrives in the most challenging environments, clinging to sheer cliffs, unstable scree slopes, and windswept crevices where few other species can survive. By forming compact, low-growing cushions, it creates its own microclimate to withstand freezing temperatures, intense ultraviolet radiation, and dry alpine winds.
Habitat: Found in high-altitude rocky crevices, limestone screes, and alpine ridges of the Pyrenees mountain range.
Appearance
This plant forms dense, dome-like cushions or loose mats of tiny, bright green leaf rosettes, typically reaching only 2 to 10 centimeters in height. Its small, lanceolate leaves are highly distinct for their 'ciliated' margins, which are fringed with fine, eyelash-like white hairs. During its brief spring and summer blooming period, the green cushion is beautifully dotted with solitary, five-petaled flowers that open in shades of soft pink to deep purplish-pink, each featuring a tiny, contrasting yellow-to-orange eye at the center.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderEricalesFamilyPrimulaceaeGenusAndrosace
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Because of the extremely short growing season in the high Pyrenees, a cushion the size of a teacup can easily be several decades old.
It is a strict Pyrenean endemic, meaning this delicate pink wildflower cannot be found growing naturally anywhere else on Earth.
Its species name 'ciliata' comes from the Latin word for eyelashes, describing the fringe of hairs on its tiny leaves.
Special abilities
Ability
Cushion Growth Habit
Forms compact, tightly packed domes that trap warm air and retain precious moisture, protecting the plant from freezing alpine temperatures and high winds.
Ability
Foliar Cilia Shield
Possesses fine, specialized hairs along its leaf margins that break up desiccating winds, trap humidity, and reduce water loss.
Ability
High UV Tolerance
Produces specialized protective pigments to prevent cellular damage from intense, unfiltered solar radiation at high elevations.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 2+ cm
- Weight
- 0.01+ kg
Diet & Feeding
As a photoautotroph, this alpine plant produces its own energy by performing photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, and minimal water and nutrients absorbed from barren rock fissures.
Primary Foods
- Sunlight
- Carbon dioxide
- Water
- Soil minerals
Foraging Method
- Photosynthesis
Ecological connections
mutualism
Pyrenean Bumblebee
Bombus pyrenaeus
Pollinated by alpine insects seeking nectar in the harsh mountain environment.
competitor
Purple Saxifrage
Saxifraga oppositifolia
Competes for limited soil pockets and moisture on sheer rock faces.
eaten by
Pyrenean Chamois
Rupicapra pyrenaica
Occasional grazing of foliage by high-altitude herbivores.
Traits
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Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Androsace Ciliata?
The easiest way to identify Androsace Ciliata is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Androsace Ciliata?
2+ cm
How much does Androsace Ciliata weigh?
0.01+ kg
What does Androsace Ciliata eat?
As a photoautotroph, this alpine plant produces its own energy by performing photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, and minimal water and nutrients absorbed from barren rock fissures.
Where is Androsace Ciliata usually found?
Found in high-altitude rocky crevices, limestone screes, and alpine ridges of the Pyrenees mountain range.
How does Androsace Ciliata hunt?
Photosynthesis
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