Alpine habitat, La Tofane
We were in the Dolomites in July this year, our third visit to this fabulous mountain range in Northern Italy. Most of our attention was paid to the spectacular alpine flowering plants but we did note a few bryophytes.
The subalpine forests have an extraordinary abundance of Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus and Hylocomium splendens (and lots of orchids, including Lady's Slipper) in stark contrast to our local, acidic Sitka forests with their abundant carpets of Rhytidiadelphus loreus.
Rhytidiadephus triquetrus and Hylocomium splendens in spruce forest near Cortina
The geology is predominantly limestone and lots of typical calcicole bryophytes are represented plus some really nice mountain species that are rare in Britain. In the province of Belluno, between Cortina D'Ampezzo and the Falzarego Pass, some excellent trails took us above tree-line into alpine tundra where there were wallcreeper. In the rocky tundra below La Tofane Ptychodium plicatum (Plaited Leskea) was growing with Saxifraga oppositifolia (Purple Saxifrage) on some sheltered limestone boulders.
Ptychodium plicatum and
Saxifraga oppositifolia, la Tofane
H and Mark on Wallcreeper twitch above Falzarego Pass
On a hike to the Rifugio Locatelli from the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo we encountered small parties of snow finches flitting about rocks covered with Pseudoleskea incurvata. Later, in the mountains above Selva in the Val Gardena we found some Pseudoleskea patens (Patent Leskea) which gave us a good opportunity to compare these very similar species. In the end we had to bring samples home to examine the shape of the mid-leaf cells to confirm their identities.
Pseudoleskea incurvata with Salix herbacea (Dwarf Willow) near Rifugio Lavaredo
Pseudoleskea patens, Selva
The short walk to Baita Monzoni in the Val San Nicolo near Pozza di Fassa follows a forest road through a moist, mossy subalpine forest.
Bartramia halleriana (Haller's Apple-moss) and
Campyllophyllum halleri (Haller's Feather-moss
) were on the base rich rocks here - the latter is a Red DataBook moss in the UK. Nearby on a large limestone boulder at the side of the road we noted a large, striking mat of
Pterigynandrum filiforme (Capillary Wing-moss). From Monzoni the trail climbs up, eventually, to the Pas de la Sele and allows access to an outstanding alpine flora which includes lots of saxifrages (e.g. the endemic
Saxifraga depressa) and other nice things like
Papaver rhaeticum (Alpine Poppy),
Phyteuma sieberi (Sieber's Rampion),
Primula glutinosa (Sticky Primrose) and
Ranunculus glacialis (Glacier Crowfoot).
Bartramia halleriana near Baita Monzoni
Bartramia halleriana with capsules
Campylophyllum halleri near Baita Monzoni
Pterigynandrum filiforme on a boulder near Baita Monzoni
Pterigynandrum filiforme Baita Monzoni
On a trip to Sottogudo we walked along a narrow road through a spectacular gorge where Orthothecium rufescens (Red Leskea) was hanging from dripping limestone outcrops. There were some nice clumps of Selaginella helvetica here too.
Orthothecium rufescens, Sottogudo Gorge
Orthothecium rufescens, Sottogudo Gorge
Selaginella helvetica, Sottogudo Gorge
Although the landscape of the Dolomites is dominated by limestone there are some extensive cliffs and outcrops of more acidic igneous rock which support a different flora, e.g. on and around Forcia Neigra near Alba. Our attention was stolen by some nice cushions of Eritrichium nanum (King-or-the-Alps) but we also noticed some conspicuous dark cushions of Grimmia montana (Sun Grimmia).
Grimmia montana, Forcia Neigra
