Fig. 2From: Cushion plant Silene acaulis is a pioneer species at abandoned coal piles in the High Arctic, SvalbardS. acaulis was growing as a dominant species on the coal pile slope in Ny-Ã…lesund a. As a nurse plant, S. acaulis can harbor other species within its cushion. For example, Bistorta vivipara has grown out of S. acaulis in the photo below bBack to article page