Late visit to the Alps

[Yann]

Aster alpinus



Leontopodium nivale subsp. alpinum



toffee apple no Geum reptans 



Pedicularis verticillata



Crepis aurea

[Rockyyy5]

Yann, amazing photos! I was in the Alps twice (once in winter and once in summer) and you just reminded me those times! I remember those beautiful views, but nature here is also amazing. Photos of aster alpinus and Leontopodium nivale subsp. alpinum are my favourites!

[Vincent]

Lovely photos Yann, thanks for sharing! Where did you find Eritrichium still in flower? I was on the Col du Galibier a few weeks ago, found Eritrichium on one ridge but they had finished flowering for a while

[Leucogenes]

Hi Yann

The power of your pictures knocks me out. 😊

I would like to highlight the most fantastic inflorescences of Geum reptans.

And of course Leontopodium nivale ssp. alpinum. A dream. Is there also a picture in the full shot? I am interested in the foliage and the height of the plant.


L. nivale seems to have very different subspecies.

The genus Leontopodium is one of the most beautiful and diverse alpine species of the northern hemisphere. I have some small species...I think a separate topic should start sometime to it

...this species deserves it.

All other plants shown are also colossal.

Thank you
Thomas

[Yann]

Vincent : left side of the road towards Valloire, the north cliff is always the late one, almost all plants were burnt except some young plants. I gave 2 spots in the Vallon de l'Anesse to several forum's members and they also found very few in bloom at 2450m, 2 days later.

I cropped photos because those photographied are not beautiful, with either a left or right side burnt  in 2014, 24th august i found at the same spot several plants flowering.

Thomas : thank you. All the Leontopodium were shoted in a grassy area, reason why i also cropped the photo.
I posted the most showy plants but i've many other pictures of Carex, Poa, etc in which i've also a great interest.
Here's another one untouched

[Yann]

Colchicum alpinum


this species can be confused with autumnale. Plants usually are never higher than 8-10cm, with an average 7-8cm,
its tepals often veined with dark, extremely short stigmas, carried by straight styles or barely curved.
At low altitude, 1200-1600m,  they're many intermediate populations and it's quiet hard to distinguish, those were shoted at 2400m.

Swertia perennis (Eritrichium is called the king of the Alps, but my king is this plant)




Thesium alpinum

[tonyg]

So many interesting plants to see at this end of Summer.  I agree with you, the Swertia is indeed a plant fit for a king ... or queen!

[Yann]

Col de Sarenne

Another great zone known to host many rare species, wonderful view on the Vallée de Ferrand and The Plateau d'Emparis.
The best period to visit the valley is mid june until mid july, many plants are xeric and grow on south facing.
I pretty knew it was too late to see them at their best but i like to hike in the valley.





Scrophularia canina subsp. hoppii



Lactuca perennis



Sedum alpestre, 3cm high

[Gabriela]

More beauties!

To stumble upon such a nice Swertia stand is very good luck
If I'll get to see my seedlings flowering I will be the most happy person on earth.

[Yann]

indeed Swertia is quiet hard to grow, germination itself is easy with a good cold period but i wasn't able to keep them more than 2 years.
I'm leaving in a lowland region where it's not cold enough during winter. A reason to return to the mountains

[Yann]

Cryptogramma crispa



Saxifraga aizoides



Myosotis scorpioides and Veronica alpina (the very last one i found)



Galium verum, very common but it catch eyes



Carlina acaulis subsp. caulescens

[Yann]

Silene nutans

[Yann]

I've received several messages asking where to find this species or this one, i'll then prepare a kmz (google maps) file and share it here.

[Yann]

the KMZ is ready, you can ask me the file by private message.

[Maggi Young]

Well done, Yann - kind of you to do that - I do hope that anyone using it will only do so in order to photograph the  plants  they find!