Euphrasia minima
Col du Galibier
As its name suggests, this is a small Euphrasia, but its most distinctive character is the colour of the flowers - it is the only strongly yellow-flowered Euphrasia in France. It is an upland species, found in all southern moutainous parts of France, where it grows in acidic pastures.
Bartsia alpina
This unmistakable species is described in the Flora of the Queyras - part 2 section of the site.
Pedicularis kerneri
Ecrins PN
This diminutive species is described in the Flora of the Queyras - part 2 section of the site.
Pedicularis verticillata
Named for the whorled stem leaves, P.verticillata is widespread in damp meadows throughout the French Alps. All other superficially similar pink-flowered Pedicularis species have alternate stem leaves.
Pedicularis rostratospicata ssp.helvetica
This handsome species is easily recognised by its tall flowering spikes, which can be locally abundant in mountain pastures.
The foliage________________
Two subspecies are recognised: ssp. rostratospicata, which occurs in the central and eastern Alps, from Switzerland to Slovenia, and ssp. helvetica, which has a more western range, from the French Alps eastwards into Austria.
The foliage________________
Two subspecies are recognised: ssp. rostratospicata, which occurs in the central and eastern Alps, from Switzerland to Slovenia, and ssp. helvetica, which has a more western range, from the French Alps eastwards into Austria.
Pedicularis comosa
Ecrins PN
Text coming soon!
Euphrasia micrantha
Campanula barbata
S side of Col du Galibier, Hautes-Alpes
A tall plant of sunny, acidic meadows, C.barbata is named for the very hairy interior of the flower, easily visible in the field (and just about in these photos!).
Campanula cenisia
track to Refuge de Carro, Vanoise PN, Savoie
Col du Galibier
Widespread in calcareous parts of the French Alps, this species is described in the Flora of the Queyras - part 3 section of the site.
Campanula scheuchzeri
Ecrins PN
Campanula cochlearifolia
Col du Galibier
This lovely Campanula is described in the Flora of the Queyras section of the site.
Phyteuma orbiculare
N side of Col du Galibier
This attractive species is described in the Flora of the Pyrenees section of the site.
basal foliage detail
basal foliage detail
Scabiosa lucida ssp.lucida (Shining Scabious)
Ecrins PN
This species is described in the Flora of the Queyras - part 3 section of the site.
Knautia arvensis
below Col du Galibier, Savoie
Text coming soon.
Bellidiastrum michelii (syn.Aster bellidiastrum)
below Col du Galibier, Savoie
This lovely species is described in the Flora of the Queyras - part 3 section of the site.
Aster alpinus
Col du Galibier
Common throughout the French Alps, this beautiful plant is described in the Flora of the Queyras - part 3 section of the site.
Leontopodium alpinum
Ecrins PN, Hautes-Alpes (both photos)
Surely the most iconic wildflower of the Alps, the lovely Edelweiss is always a special plant to see. It is instantly recognisable and enlivens any walk in the mountains.
Although very widespread, Edelweiss often seems to occur only in small quantity in any given place (in my experience, at least), with scattered plants found, rather than large colonies, although over the Italian border I did once see a whole sloping meadow filled with them - it was truly spectacular!
Although very widespread, Edelweiss often seems to occur only in small quantity in any given place (in my experience, at least), with scattered plants found, rather than large colonies, although over the Italian border I did once see a whole sloping meadow filled with them - it was truly spectacular!
Achillea nana
leaf detail, Col du Galibier
Ecrins PN, Hautes-Alpes
Aptly-named, this species really is significantly smaller than its cousins. Despite that, it is easy to recognise, even when not in bloom. The densely-felted, pinnate foliage of A.nana has a distinct look to it, as does its habit of growing as scattered rosette, often in barren, gravelly exposed sites such as ridges and crests. It is a common species throughout the French Alps in suitably dry habitat.
Achillea erba-rotta
track to Refuge de Carro, Vanoise PN, Savoie
Much more common in Savoie than further south, this plant is described in the Flora of the Queyras - part 3 section of the site.
Cirsium spinosissimum
Col du Galibier, Savoie
As the scientific name suggests, this is a very spiny plant indeed. This, combined with the pale yellow-brown flowerheads, makes identification of this species easy.
In France, C.spinosissimum is only found in the Alps.
In France, C.spinosissimum is only found in the Alps.
Doronicum grandiflorum
Col du Galibier
This species is described in the Flora of the Queyras - part 3 section of the site.
The plants shown here could be D.clusii, as the marginal hairs were not observed.
The plants shown here could be D.clusii, as the marginal hairs were not observed.
Centaurea montana
S side of Col du Galibier, Hautes-Alpes
Text coming soon!
Centaurea uniflora
below Col du Galibier, Savoie
Ecrins PN
Text coming soon!
Gnaphalium supinum
Refuge d'Etendard area, Savoie (both photos)
This species is described in the Flora of Ben Lawers NNR section of the site.
Artemisia glacialis
This species is described in the Flora of the Queyras - part 3 section of the site.
Artemisia umbelliformis
Thisspecies is described in the Flora of the Queyras - part 3 section of the site.
Artemisia genepi
foliage detail, track to Refuge de Carro, Vanoise PN, Savoie (both photos)
A combination of features help differentiate A.genipi from similar alpine Artemisias (although I don't find this an easy species to feel confident with!).
It is most similar to A.eriantha - both have similar trifoliate leaves and an abundance of axillary flowerheads up the flowering stem. As its name suggests, A.eriantha has wooly flower bracts; A.genipi has hairless flower bracts and less hairy leaves. The two species inhabit different habitats as well - eriantha is a calcifuge species, whereas genipi favours calcareous schist.
The other similar species pair (A.glacialis/umbelliformis) is described in the Flora of the Queyras - part 3 section of the site. Both of those species look noticeably different to A.genipi, especially A.glacialis.
Genipi is a protected plant in France and collecting stems for use in making traditional genepi liqueur is strictly controlled.
It is most similar to A.eriantha - both have similar trifoliate leaves and an abundance of axillary flowerheads up the flowering stem. As its name suggests, A.eriantha has wooly flower bracts; A.genipi has hairless flower bracts and less hairy leaves. The two species inhabit different habitats as well - eriantha is a calcifuge species, whereas genipi favours calcareous schist.
The other similar species pair (A.glacialis/umbelliformis) is described in the Flora of the Queyras - part 3 section of the site. Both of those species look noticeably different to A.genipi, especially A.glacialis.
Genipi is a protected plant in France and collecting stems for use in making traditional genepi liqueur is strictly controlled.
Antennaria dioica
track to Refuge de Carro, Vanoise PN, Savoie
Col du Galibier, Savoie
This widespread montane plant is described in the Flora of the Pyrenees - part 2 section of the site.
Leucanthemopsis alpina
This charming perennial is a plant of siliceous rocky meadows and summit crests, often at very high altitude. It has a creeping habit with spiny-looking, finely-pinnate foliage. This foliage can be rather hairy but also shiny and glabrous.
Erigeron uniflorus
Col du Galibier, Savoie (both photos)
This small Erigeron is best identified by its woolly-white flower bracts, as some other Erigeron species can have single flowers on their stems. The individual flowers are also rather pale tending to almost white in some individuals.
E.uniflorus is widespread in the French Alps and also occurs in the Pyrenees. The very similar E.neglectus has darker solitary flowers and the leaves and bracts are less densely-hairy.
E.uniflorus is widespread in the French Alps and also occurs in the Pyrenees. The very similar E.neglectus has darker solitary flowers and the leaves and bracts are less densely-hairy.
Erigeron schleicheri
Ecrins PN
The branched inflorescences immediately separate this species from E.uniflorus and neglectus. It is very simlar to E.atticus, and both occur in the French Alps. The branching pattern of the two species is different, however, with E.atticus branched only in the upper third of the stems, which are also rather prostrate in habit, not upright like E.schleicheri. Both have glandular-hairy stems, unlike those of the other other alpine members of the genus.
E.schleicheri is a characterstic plant of siliceous scree and other rocky habitats.
E.schleicheri is a characterstic plant of siliceous scree and other rocky habitats.
Crepis sp
Col du Galibier
Text coming soon!
Tofieldia calyculata
S side of Col du Galibier, Hautes-Alpes (all photos)
This moisture-loving species is described in the Flora of the Maritime Alps - part 3 section of the site.
Traunsteineria globosa
Col du Galibier
This lovely orchid is described in the Flora of the Maritime Alps - part 3 section of the site.
Gymnadenia nigra (Black Vanilla Orchid)
below Col du Galibier, Savoie (all photos)
A beautiful orchid of alpine pastures, Vanilla Orchid is always a welcome sight and the meadow full of them photographed below was incredible to see.
G.nigra (formerly known as Nigritella nigra) is widespread in central and southern Europe and impossible to mistake for any other species when in flower. Five subspecies are recognised in the 2014 Flora Gallica, four of which occur in the French Alps.
G.nigra (formerly known as Nigritella nigra) is widespread in central and southern Europe and impossible to mistake for any other species when in flower. Five subspecies are recognised in the 2014 Flora Gallica, four of which occur in the French Alps.