Geum-montanum_20

Description:

Geum montanum L. Sp. Pl., syn.: Sieversia Montana (L.) R. Br.Mountain Aves, DE: Berg-NelkenwurzSlo.: gorska sretenaDat.: Aug. 12. 2013Lat.: 46.43968 Long.: 13.64463Code: Bot_742/2013_IMG3983Habitat: Mountain pasture, grass patches among rocks, slightly south inclined mountain slope, somewhat acid skeletal ground, calcareous bedrock with some siliceous rock, full sun, relatively moist place; exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 0-2 deg C,elevation 1.970 m (6.460 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil rich with humus.Place: Mt. Mangart's flats, near the most south snow valley west of the peak of Mt. Mangart, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC Comment: Geum montanum is a very beautiful high mountain flower. In June sometimes quite extensive carpets of large gold yellow flowers among blue-green, interestingly shaped leaves form unforgettable displays. In late summer flower stalks lengthen three to four times and bear large filigree heads of plumose fruits. These heads are especially beautiful in early morning sun rays, which play in thousand small drops of morning dew formed on silvery hairs of the plume. Later the blue-green color of the leaves changes to autumn colors of gold-yellow, warm brown and deep carmine red. Beautiful throughout the growing season! Geum montanum grows in all parts of the Alps and in most of surrounding mountain groups. It is abundant on Mt. Mangart's flats. Nevertheless, it thrives only high in the mountains and requires acid ground. Since, such places are not common in Slovenia, which is almost entirely 'made of' calcareous rocks, it grows on relatively few places and can be thus considered as quite rare in my country.Ref.:(1) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora sterreich Liechtenstein, Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 479.(2) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije, Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007) (in Slovene), p 251. (3) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 246.(4) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 758.(5) N. Jogan (ed.), Gradivo za Atlas flore Slovenije (Materials for the Atlas of Flora of Slovenia), CKSF (2001), p 181