Flora of the Maritime Alps - part 3

Phyteuma globulariifolium ssp.pedemontanum

Col de la Bonette

This lovely wildflower is described in the Flora of the Queyras - part 3 section of the site.

Phyteuma ovatum

Col de Tende

Easily distinguished by the dark purple flower spikes, P.ovatum is quite a tall-growing Phyteuma, up to almost a metre in height. It grows in woodland margins and sheltered meadows in siliceous (schist) terrain.

This species is found throughout the Alps in suitable habitat.

Phyteuma sp

Le Boreon

Text coming soon, pending ID.

Phyteuma orbiculare

Col de Tende

This attractive species is described in the Flora of the Pyrenees - part 2 section of the site.

Campanula spicata

Val Gordolasque, Mercantour PN

A tall Campanula of dry, calcareous pastures lower on the mountains, C.spicata is an impressive species in bloom, and aptly-named, as it bears a tall spike of lilac-purple flowers.

Campanula alpestris

Col de la Bonette, Mercantour PN

This stunning Campanula is common in the sun-baked scree around the Col de la Bonette. It is described in more detail in the Flora of the Queyras - part 3 section of the site.

foliage detail

Campanula scheuchzeri

Col de la Bonette, Mercantour PN

This spindly Campanula species is described in the Flora of the Cordillera Cantabrica part 2 section of the site.

Aster alpinus

Val Gordolasque, Mercantour PN

This common alpine species is described in the Flora of the Queyras - part 3 section of the site.

in habitat

Bellidiastrum michelii (syn.Aster bellidiastrum)

Val Gordolasque, Mercantour PN

This species is described in the Flora of the Queyras - part 3 section of the site.

Antennaria dioica

Le Boreon

pink-flowered form, Val Gordolasque

Val Gordolasque, Mercantour PN

Common in dry, alpine meadows throughout the Maritime Alps, this species is described in the Flora of the Pyrenees - part 2 section of the site.

foliage, Le Boreon

Taxaracum

Anthemis cretica ssp.columnae

Val Gordolasque, Mercantour PN

Le Boreon

Col de la Bonette

A widespread and variable species across much of southern Europe, A.cretica is known as three separate subspecies within France itself.

Of these forms, only ssp.columnae is found in the mountains.

Leucanthemopsis alpina

Col de Tende

Text coming soon!

Achillea nana

Col de la Bonette, Mercantour PN

A characteristic plant of dry, sun-baked rocky soil in the mountains, A.nana is widespread in the French Alps in regions with acidic rocks. The densely-hairy leaves and small stature make it instantly recognisable.

Achillea macrophylla

Col de Tende

A plant of damp, acidic mountain meadows, A.macrophylla in some ways resembles a giant version of A.ptarmica (link to derbs) in that is has distinct flowers with petals in its flowerhead, but differs in its large (hence the name) pinnately-divided leaves.

Achillea millefolium

Val Gordolasque, Mercantour PN

This very familiar and widespread plant nonetheless ascends high up into the mountains in France. The plant photographed here had unusually pink-tinged flowers, something I had not come across before.

Homogyne alpina

Val Gordolasque, Mercantour PN

foliage, Le Boreon

A common flower in damp, acidic meadows in the granitic areas of the Maritime Alps, H.alpina is easy to recognise with its spindly pale violet flowers and broad, rounded leaves. It is a widespread plant in montane France and can be seen thoughout the Alps. The two other species of Homogyne are eastern species, absent from France.

in habitat, Val Gordolasque, Mercantour PN

Adenostyles alpina

Le Boreon

Col de Tende

Text coming soon!

Adenostyles leucophylla

Image comng soon!

Text coming soon!

Arnica montana (Arnica)

Val Gordolasque, Mercantour PN

Col des Champs

Arnica is described in the Flora of the Queyras - part 3 section of the site.

foliage,

Doronicum grandiflorum

Le Boreon, Mercantour PN

Text coming soon.

leaf detail, Le Boreon, Mercantour PN

Lactuca alpina

Col de Tende

Formerly known as Cicerbita alpina, this statuesque, impressive perennial is a plant of rocky meadows and woodland margins where the soils stays damp. The pale violet flowerheads are very distinctive and make the genus easy to recognise. Several other Lactuca species ascend to alpine elevations. L.alpina is distinguished by its reddish, hairy stems. The species occurs in all moutainous regions of France.

Berardia lanuginosa (syn. Berardia subacaulis)

Col de la Bonette, Mercantour PN

One of the classic alpine plants of the south-western Alps, Berardia is a unique species, quite unlike any other. Its large grey wrinkled leaves resemble a garden vegetable more than a rare alpine plant.

Formerly known as B.subacaulis, this robust plant inhabits dry, sun-baked, calcareous scree where few other plants are happy to grow. No other plant can be mistaken for it. When flowering, its rather understated spindly yellow blooms reveal its thistle family heritage.

Hieracium tomentosum

Col de Tende

Text coming soon!

Jacobaea incana

Le Boreon

Formerly known as Senecio incanus, this plant is easily-recognised by its greyish-white downy foliage and clusters of bright yellow flowers, J.incana is a plant of dry alpine meadows on acidic (siliceous) soils.

Carduus defloratus

Col de Tende

This common thislte is described in the Flora of the Cordillera Cantabrica section of the site.

Solidago sp

Col de la Bonette, Mercantour PN

Text coming soon.

Tofieldia calyculata

Val Gordolasque, Mercantour PN

foliage, Col de la Bonette, Mercantour PN

Easily identified by its pale yellow flower spikes, T. calyculata is a characteristic plant of base-rich flushes and mires throughout the mountains of France, and Europe as a whole.

Allium narcissiflorum

Col de Tende

The large, pink, bell-shaped flowers of this lovely warmth-loving species make it easy to recognise. It is a plant of rocky, calcareous habitats.

Veratrum album (White False Helleborine)

Val Gordolasque, Mercantour PN

This tall perennial of open meadows is described in the Flora of the Pyrenees - part 2 section of the site.

Triglochin palustre

near Col de Bonette, Mercantour PN

Text coming soon!

Lilium martagon

Val Gordolasque, Mercantour PN (this and previous photo)

Col de Tende

Text coming soon!

Gymnadenia nigra

Col de Tende

is described in the Flora of the central Hautes-Alpes & Savoie - part 2 section of the site.

Traunsteineria globosa

Col de Tende

A beautiful orchid, widespred in the Alps, Traunsteineria is widespread in Europe, growing in a variety of habitats. The population photographed here was in a typical sunny alpine meadow.

As a species it is easy to recognise - no other European orchid has a globular flowerhead composed of many small pink flowers.

Coeloglossum viride (Frog Orchid)

Col de Tende

This easily-overlooked orchid is described in the Flora of Dorset section of the site.

Pseudorchis albida (Small White Orchid)

Le Boreon, Mercantour PN

A widespread orchid of acidic pastures, this species is easily overlooked but beautiful when given closer inspection.

The only member of its genus, the flowers of P.albida resemble a Platanthera species but are much smaller, have a three-lobed lip and occur in denser spikes.

Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Common Spotted-orchid)

Le Boreon, Mercantour PN

Text coming soon!

Luzula lutea

Le Boreon

Recognisable by its yellow flowers, L.lutea, is a montane species of acidic, sunny meadows. It is a fairly small species, growing up to 50cm tall but often smaller.

It can be seen throughout the Alps and also occurs in the Pyrenees.

Luzula alpinopilosa ssp.alpinopilosa

Col de la Bonette, Mercantour PN

A widespread and variable woodrush of cold, acidic meadows where snow lies late in the year, this species is found throughout granitic areas of the Alps. It can be recognised by its glabrous leaves, fairly short stature (to 40cm tall), dark brown flowers and anthers much longer than their filaments. The very similar L.desvauxii is absent from the French Alps.

The two other subspecies of L.alpinopilosa are found in eastern Europe.

in habitat

Briza media

Col des Champs

Text coming soon!

Paradisea liliastrum (St Bruno's Lily)

Val Gordolasque, Mercantour PN

A beautiful bulbous plant of subalpine pastures in France, Paradisea is a lovely sight when in flower, and not easily-mistaken for any other plant - its white flower spikes are very distinctive.

This plant can be seen in all major mountainous regions of France.