The Dolomites

[Katherine J]

Hi Ian,
I have seen your nice pics just now. Could you tell me please, where exactly have you seen the Eritrichium nanum? We spent 2x2 weeks in 2006 and 2007 in the Dolomites, in early July too, but I have never seen that little beautiful thing.

[ian mcenery]

Hi Katherine we found Eritrichium nanum above the Pordoi pass on the high ridge above the Bindelweg or Viel del pain (a famous path which has views over the Marmolada -see link below which gives a description of the location). The ridge is easily found. After the first ascent from the pass you leave the main Bindelweg path for the ridge and just follow the path. You can descend and get refreshments at a rifugio - very civilised. The rock here is volcanic (acid) as opposed to limestone a necessary requirement for the plant. Late June would be a good time to see it at its best. This ridge although exposed is full of alpines

http://www.planetmountain.com/english/Trekking/escursioni/Detail.html?skip=9&gruppo=&grupposentieri=&cima=&nvia=&diffeng=

[Katherine J]

Aaaaaaaah! We were round there, there is another ridge above the Pordoi pass, volcanic too, with views over the Marmolada  but there was no Eritrichium. We only planned Viel del Pan... I'm so sorry! Another reason to go back.
Thank you for this precious information!

[hadacekf]

Ian,
The unidentified little dianthus is the wonderful Dianthus silvestris.

[ian mcenery]

thanks Franz it fills in another gap

[Katherine J]

I was wrong. My husband says we WERE at Viel del Pan. But I remember the weather was quite awful that day, and we went only from Pordoi pass to Rifuggio Viel del Pan, then turned back. And no Eritrichium. Maybe next time. Your pictures are great indeed.

[johanneshoeller]

Südtirol in September with lots of Campanula morettiana. Androsace hausmannii was growing and flowering under the chairs of the refugio you see. Sorry the photos are all scanned.

Hans

[ian mcenery]

Katherine you would have needed to be on the ridge above the rifugio ( this is a good access point ) to see this plant as  it grows with the wind in its hair

Hans nice to see pictures of an area we didn't explore thanks

[Katherine J]

Hans nice to see pictures of an area we didn't explore thanks

and in a month we didn't explore! Thanks from me too, Hans.

[ranunculus]

Hi Kathrine, Hans and Ian,
Interesting discussion about Eritrichium nanum in the Dolomites....there are grassy promontories that jut out from the Viel del Pain with rocky outcrops at the end that face out towards the glacier....there are a number of fine cushions on these outcrops (beware of steep drops).  I have included a few shots of the area that Ian has referred to where the limestone meets volcanic rock....

[ranunculus]

....I should have added; 'Spot the chough' on the first image of the Pordoi Pass from a misty, lofty vantage point....

[Katherine J]

Wonderful pics Cliff!
Here are ours from that region (before an awful snowstorm  )

Saxifraga paniculata

[Katherine J]

and...
 Aster alpinus-D07PP.jpg
 Fedaia-D07PP.jpg
 Langkofel+Trollius-D07PP.jpg
 Marmolada3342-D07PP.jpg

[johanneshoeller]

Does anybody grow Eritrichium nanum with great success? I grew them for some time (5 years) and after a very hot day (33°C) all died.

Hans

[Katherine J]

As I know even Will Ingversen was unsuccessful with Eritrichium nanum (W. I. : Alpines).