Flora of the Spanish Pyrenees - part 2

This species is described in the Flora of Ben Lawers NNR section of the site.

Despite the common name of the species, these plants were flowering in mid-August when I visited.

You can see photos of plants growing in the French Alps here.

This little plant is common in subalpine meadows in the Pyrenees.  Unlike most other Gentian and Gentianella species, the flowers are a pale purple, rather than blue.

This beautiful gentian is described in the Flora of the Cordillera Cantabrica section of the site.

This shrubby plant is widespread in Spain, and across Europe as a whole.  It can be recognised by its oval, pointed leathery leaves and clusters of small, pale yellow, 5-petalled flowers.

Viper's-bugloss is a common plant in the calcareous meadows of the Pyrenees.  The species is described in more detail in the Flora of other areas of southern England section of the site.

Like many members of the Solanaceae, Woody Nightshade is a very poisonous plant.  It is a cosmopolitan species, happily growing in the lowlands as well as the uplands and can be seen throughout Europe, including much of Britain. 

Thanks to Fred Rumsey for the identification.

A delicate perennial found in stony places in the mountains, Alpine Skullcap can be seen throughout the Pyrenees, and most of the major mountain ranges and upland areas in mainland Europe

This common Pyrenean wildflower can be recognised by its erect flower spikes, with drooping violet-blue flowers, with the typical Labiateae shape. 

This common European species is described in the Flora of Derbyshire - the White Peak woodlands section of the site.

In the limestone mountains of northern Spain, this prostrate shrub soon becomes a familiar species.  It is characterised by its small proportions and almost sessile (stalkless) flowerheads - these are visible on this specimen as withered brown balls. 

Euphrasias are a notoriously difficult group of species to identify, with differences between many species very slight indeed.

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One of three European Ramonda species, these plants are the only European representatives of the Gesneriaceae, a mainly tropical family of plants.  R.myconi is endemic to the Pyrenees and north-east Spain, where it grows in dry crevices in limestone high up in the mountains.  Superficially it resembles a Primula species, but no Pyrenean Primula combines the features of wrinkled downy leaves and a hairy flowering stalk. 

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This common large shrub is easily recognised by its toothed, pinnate leaves and dense clusters of bright red berries.

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This species is described in the Flora of Derbyshire - the White Peak grasslands part 1 section of the site.

This common mountain species is described in the Flora of the Cordillera Cantabrica part 2 section of the site.

Thanks to Fred Rumsey for confirming the ID.

Nettle-leaved Bellflower is a woodland species, unlike the smaller, showier mountain grassland Campanulas found elsewhere.  The strikingly hairy throats of the pale flowers are indicative of this species, as are the toothed, nettle-like leaves.

As its common name suggests, this Phyteuma has incurved floral parts, creating a globular head - all other Spanish (and European) species have spreading floral parts leading to more open inflorescences.

In the Pyrenees, five Phyteumas occur: P. orbiculare, P. charmelii, P. hemisphaericum, P. pedemontanum and P. rupicola.

Found throughout the mountainous areas of mainland Europe, this common alpine daisy is easy to recognise, thanks to the pale purple rays and bright yellow centre on each flowerhead

A common plant of dry mountain pastures in Europe, this species can be recognised by its fluffy seed-heads, which develop in summer from the dense, understated white flowerheads.  The densely downy foliage forms a basal rosette around each stalk, and patches of this plant often cover several square metres.

You can see photos of plants from the Scottish Highlands here.

foliage detail

One of the icons of Europe's high mountains, in Spain the Edelweiss is restricted to the Pyrenees, where it grows in limestone grassland.

You can see better photos of the plant from France and Italy here and here.

These large, spiny, stemless thistles are common in montane grassland in the Pyrenees, resembling a giant version of their relative, the Carline Thistle (C.acaulis).  The flower buds are pinkish-white, but on opening, the flowers gradually turn yellow. 

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Although usually with typical pink/purple flowers, Pyrenean Thistle also frequently occurs as a white-flowered form.  As the photo shows, it is a viciously-spiny plant.  The tight clusters of flowers and downy-white, winged stems are distinctive as well.  As its common name suggests, it is endemic to the Pyrenees.

Mountain meadows in the Pyrenees are home to this statuesque thistle relative, which is endemic to northern Spain and southern France.  Its sheer size (over a metre tall when flowering) and bristly, globular flowerheads make it easy to recognise.

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Formerly known as A.montanum, this widespread species can be recognised by its dense globular flowerheads, with each rosy-pink flower having obviously protruding stamens.

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These statuesque plants grow in damp montane grassland throughout the northern half of the Iberian Peninsula.  The leaves and habit resemble Gentiana lutea, which grows in similar habitats, but the six-petalled white flowers with strongly-veined, green-based petals are distinctive.  The plant is highly poisonous, and often occurs in dense colonies, as it is not browsed by cattle.

Endemic to northern Spain and adjacent parts of southern France, this stunning wildflower grows in damp mountain meadows.  Plants are often rather scattered, but the sight of a densely-packed colony (often near a stream or flush) is a memorable sight.  In the Pyrenees, this is the only Iris species, and hence is easily recognised.

This common orchid of dry, calcareous woodlands is described in the Flora of Derbyshire - the White Peak woodlands section of the site.

One of Europe's commonest orchids, this species can be found just as readily at moderate elevations in alpine meadows, as in lowland areas.  It can be identified by its 3-lobed lip on the flower, with the central lobe distinctively pointed, and the double row of purple spots and lines on the lip itself.

Widespread in calcareous alpine meadows throughout the major mountain ranges of Europe (as well as in lowland Britain), Fragrant Orchid is a variable species, found in a range of colour forms regarded by some authors as distinct species.

This common mountain fern is described in the Flora of northern England section of the site.

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A rare fern in Britain, this species is more frequent on the limestone mountain slopes of the Pyrenees. 

It is described more fully in the Flora of Derbyshire - the White Peak grasslands part 2 section of the site. 

Thanks to Fred Rumsey for the identification.

sori detail

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Recognised by its pendent brown compact flowerheads and fruits, L. pediformis is a fairly widespread south-west European montane species.  It occurs in the Alps, Pyrenees and several mountain ranges in central and Eastern Spain.

Currently unidentified.

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