Along Rallarvegen, Norway

[Hoy]

Rallarvegen is a construction road used when the Oslo - Bergen Railway was built in the mountains between Haugastøl in east and Myrdal in west. The road is about 90 km long from Haugastøl (inland) to Flåm (at the Aurlandsfjorden, part of Sognefjorden). The Oslo - Bergen railway was completed in 1909. (The first stretch was opened in 1883.)

Now the "road", or trail, is a popular bicycle tour in summer. It is several places along the trail to stay overnight so you don't need to cycle (or walk) all in one day!

"Rallar" is a railway worker.

This is not about cycling but shows some plants and vistas along the road.


Silene dioica. This is a common species along the trail.




Sedges - it is many different species here.




Polygonum viviparum. Usually the flowers are whitish. Some still use it as food!




Alchemilla sp. Several apomictic species are described . . .




Ranunculus acris - a very variable species, and Geranium sylvaticum. The trail can be seen in the upper left corner.

[Hoy]

Salix species, Rhodiola rosea and geraniums.




Rock formations.




Salix species and fireweed not in flower yet.




Silene acaulis. An early bloomer and some were still in flower.




Mouse ear, Salix herbacea male plants in flower.

[Hoy]

Salix glauca




Bartsia alpina




Micranthes (Saxifraga) stellaris. Two colour forms.






A war is going on! The yellow moss slowly covers the other ones seemingly without resistance.

[Hoy]

It is still a lot of snow at this time of the year.




Salix lapponum




Buttercups. Lake Sandå is open.




Other lakes are still covered by ice.





Buttercups and dandelions.



To be continued . .

[Maggi Young]

A very pleasing trail - if a bit chilly in places!

[Hoy]

A very pleasing trail - if a bit chilly in places!

Very pleasing. It wasn't as cold as it looks - we had about 9C and you stay warm if you use wool!

[Robert]

Hi Trond,

What a fascinating area. It seems well above treeline. What is the elevation? Is there always lingering snow in July or was the winter snowfall especially heavy this past season?

I could not help but notice the crustose lichens on the rocks. What sort of diversity is there? I noticed several different types on the rocks. The location seems like it would also be a haven for Mosses and other Bryophytes. Do you see many species?

[Hoy]

Hi Trond,

What a fascinating area. It seems well above treeline. What is the elevation? Is there always lingering snow in July or was the winter snowfall especially heavy this past season?

I could not help but notice the crustose lichens on the rocks. What sort of diversity is there? I noticed several different types on the rocks. The location seems like it would also be a haven for Mosses and other Bryophytes. Do you see many species?

Robert,

Sorry I forgot to mention the elevation. At Haugastøl it is about 1000m and the treeline is ca 1100m. Finse railway station is at 1222m. The highest point at the road is 1343m. Myrdal railway station is at 870m. Here a the western ide of the mountains the treeline is slightly lower.

It is always lingering now up here although it differs from one year to the next how much it is. We had to cross 15-20 patches of snow (snøfenner as we call it). Some of them several meters deep still.

It is many crustose and other types of lichens although I know next to nothing about them (1976 species are known from Norway - so far). It is also a lot of mosses and other bryophytes but I am not better on them. I am sorry I didn't take many pictures of lichen etc at this trip.

[Hoy]

Antennaria alpina. Two species are common here, this one and A. dioica which usually are found at a slightly lower altitude.




Rhodiola rosea. This species is common high up in the mountains but it also grows along the coast and in the far north. One of the many Taraxacum species is also in flower.




Cerastium alpinum.




Silene suecica (syn Lychnis alpina etc!) This plant indicates heavy metals like copper in the ground. The lichen is a Cladonia, possibly C arbuscula.




An albino Silene dioica.

[Hoy]

Saxifraga stellata. This species is one of the commoner of the genus. It is found in wet or moist habitats almost from sea level to the highest mountains.




A little meadow at 1200m. Silene dioica, Ranunculus acris and Geranium sylvaticum in flower.




A yellow form of Rhodiola rosea. These are usually male flowers. The ground is glaciofluviale deposits consisting of sand, silt and rounded rocks of different origins.




Sibbaldia procumbens - a common but rather modest plant. I like it!




Typical habitat for Silene suecica.

[Hoy]

Silene suecica




Oxyria digyna




Lake Låghellervatnet, 1180m




Myosotis decumbens




Gnaphalium norvegicum

[Hoy]

We have passed the highest point at the trail at 1343m at Fagernut. Now we are getting down to the low alpine zone.

Trientalis euopaea




Viola palustris. Like many plants in Norway, you'll it them from the coast and up to at least the low alpine zone. Leaves of Alchemilla alpina.




A pink version of Trientalis europaea.




Phleum alpinum




Melampyrum pratense. An unusual colour form. Usually they are yellow.



To be continued..

[Alan_b]

Ooh, I've been looking for a white form of Silene dioica to grow in my garden but I have not yet found a nursery that stocks it.  The white campion that grows wild locally is Silene latifolia, which is biennial.  I'm also interested in what variability you see in Ranunculus acris.  Usually this has very finely-divided leaves but strangely the long-established flore pleno form doesn't.  There is also a pale cream form in cultivation.         

[shelagh]

Hoy you have brought back memories. It is many years since we travelled by Norwegian Railways on the Flam railroad. The only train I know that stops en route for everyone to get off and take a picture of the waterfall. (I'm talking of the days before digital cameras and phones).

[Hoy]

Ooh, I've been looking for a white form of Silene dioica to grow in my garden but I have not yet found a nursery that stocks it.  The white campion that grows wild locally is Silene latifolia, which is biennial.  I'm also interested in what variability you see in Ranunculus acris.  Usually this has very finely-divided leaves but strangely the long-established flore pleno form doesn't.  There is also a pale cream form in cultivation.         

At Finse railway station you can find all the colours from pure white to dark pink, almost red. I have never been there when the seeds are ripe though!




I have never seen pleno forms in the wild but I know they can be found. I have seen excellent forms pictured. The montane forms I have seen usually have less divided leaves.