Image of Zwerg-Alpenscharte

Description:

Slo.: pritlikava kosmatulja - Habitat: Alpine stony grassland and large calcareous boulders, almost flat terrain, calcareous ground; full sun, wind-swept place, exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 8-10 deg C,elevation 1.980 m (6.500 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: soil among rocks, scree and in rock crevices of large boulders. - Comment: Growing solitary on a large calcareous boulder. This is another interesting endemic plant of East Alps (and west Carpathians Ref.:(1)). It is one of late summer blooming high mountain flowers. One can hardly find it significantly below 2.000 m (6.500 feet). Its somehow strange, hairy appearance always surprises me. Saussurea pygmaea is quite a common plant on Mangart's flats, although literature considers it as not common or even rare in other parts of East Alps. - Ref.: (1) T. Wraber, 2 x Sto alpsih rastlin na Slovenskem (2 x Hundered Alpine Plants of Slovenia), in Slovene, Preernova Druba (2007), p 186. (2) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora Oesterreich Liechtenstein, Suedtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 926. (3) A. Martinči et all., Mala Flora Slovenije, Tehnična Zaloba Slovenije (2007), in Slovene, p 675.