Mount Ventoux, it's not all about bike

[Yann]

This summer is warm for almost all Europe, south of France doesn't escape the heat wave.
During my holidays i visited several mountains, here's the last one explored: Mount Ventoux.

I know Maggi is addicted to Tour de France but fortunately for me this year the Mont Ventoux wasn't affected by the race 

This mountain is located in the Baronnies region, Vaucluse. Altitude : 1912 m.
From the base to the summit it's said 5 climates can be found in less than 1h.
North side and south side have very different aspects and vegetation.
Most of the plant are very located, somes in really remote areas and good shoes are needed to walk the screes.

[Yann]

General view of the submit





Papaver alpinum var. aurantiacum





Crepis pygmaea

[Yann]

Iberis nana



Alyssum flexicaule



Paronychia kapela



Campanula alpestris



Minuartia capillacea

[Yann]

Eryngium spinalba



Sedum atratum



more tomorrow 

[Maggi Young]

Wow!  How  marvelous to see these  pictures - thank you  Yann.
Part  of  my  enjoyment  of the  cycling tours  is  imagining the  plants that are  growing there as I watch the  tv coverage  - certainly the  helicopter  shots  of the  scenery  is  fantastic. Great for  "stay at  homes" as I am these  days. 

Even at altitude the  plants are  remarkable  after the  heat, are they  not?  The walking  must  have  been  hard work, Yann!

[Yann]

Yes i was also surprise to found many of them in good state compared to what i saw in the Alps in low altitude.
Tonight my dsl connexion is so slow i can't upload almost nothing.

Sedum anopetalum



Aquilegia reuteri



Euphorbia seguieriana





Galium pusillum

[Yann]

Even at altitude the  plants are  remarkable  after the  heat, are they  not?  The walking  must  have  been  hard work, Yann!

You just need good shoes  these ones are special for screes approach i usually use them in moraine when approaching glacier.
very rigid sole and protection for rocks.

[Yann]

Linaria supina, the last one i found with flowers. There it usually starts to bloom mid june.



Phyteuma charmelii, typical petiolate leaves with long limb and dentate. This species likes very hot spots.



Thymus serpyllum



Sedum dasyphyllum



Erigeron glabratus (the leaves are ciliated on the edges and glabrous, stem is glabrous)

[Yann]

Silene vallesia was burnt but i could find a scree full of Silene vulgaris subsp. prostrata



Oxytropis amethystea

[Rick R.]

I really do appreciate seeing the whole plant and not just the flower.  Here and on other posts you make on other threads, this is what really helps the learning experience for us.  Thank you. 

[Maggi Young]

I really do appreciate seeing the whole plant and not just the flower.  Here and on other posts you make on other threads, this is what really helps the learning experience for us.  Thank you. 

I could  not  agree  more !

[Yann]

I really do appreciate seeing the whole plant and not just the flower.  Here and on other posts you make on other threads, this is what really helps the learning experience for us.  Thank you.

Rick thank you, flower is just a part of the plant, to identify we need leaf, roots, stems, without them we won't be able to put a name on a plant  I usually measure stem, branch, ombel and note the photo number inside my smartphone. Once at home it's very usefull.

I mostly use Flora gallica and Flora Med to ID plants of my country and the south surroundings ones (GR, IT, etc)

Using translator: http://abiris.snv.jussieu.fr/flore/herbier.php or by key http://abiris.snv.jussieu.fr/flore/flore.php

[Yann]

Solidago virgaurea subsp. minuta



Carduus defloratus subsp. carlinifolius



Biscutella brevicaulis



Erysimum jugicola

[Rick R.]

I usually measure stem, branch, umbel and note the photo number inside my smartphone. Once at home it's very useful.

I often bring the Flora book(s) with me on hikes, but usually don't take the time to use them(!)  When I come across a plant I want to identify, I too, take pics of leaves, stem, etc.  Yes, they always prove useful, and sometimes I wish I had measured something (because I almost never do).  Especially, I look to see what characteristics the flora key uses to separate species.  The camera is definitely your friend when you need to know what shape a trichome is !!!
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Solidago virgaurea subsp. minuta
I have that one!  (I think)  Bought it here as Solidago virgaurea ssp. alpestris var. minutissima

[Yann]

yes it was often ID as ssp alpestris, but your plant is the right one!

Sambucus ebulus, the fragrance of this species is bewitching...not the one of its stems (fetid smell)



Campanula scheuchzeri subsp. scheuchzeri



Adenostyles alpina



Linaria striata



Laserpitium gallicum