The Forgotten Forest – Polylepis

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A recount of our trekking trip on the Inca trail to Machu Picchu – part II We were just starting on the second day to eventually reach the highest point on the Inca Trail: Warmiwañusca Pass (in translation Dead Woman’s Pass) at 4265 m.…
Caiophora coronata

A botanical trip to Chilean Andes – part II

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Another awesome trip, that shouldn’t be missed if you are in the region, is towards Embalse de Yeso. This is an artificial dam with an amazing alpine style lake at about 2500 m elevation. The narrow, gravely road follows dangerously close…
Dianthus glacialis

A botanical trip to Chilean Andes – part I

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  This is a recount of a trip we were lucky to make a few years ago in the Chilean Andes. At the time, I had developed a mild new obsession for the rosulate Violas after seeing a few pictures and reading about them on the Botany Photo…
Clematis colombiana var. tenuiloba

Gardens in the Mountains – Wasatch Mountains

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When hiking on the nearby trails doesn’t suffice anymore, we usually set out toward a mountain area to immerse in the richness of alpine landscapes. Two years ago at the end of July, we travelled to Snowbird, situated in the heart of scenic…
Campanula alpina

Campanula alpina and calcifuge friends

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 And after a while, following the trail and botanizing and/or admiring the scenery you’ll make it to the Omu Peak and Omu Chalet. It is time to have a snack, and finding a place to sit down (outside) is easily done. Careful though -…
Gentiana phlogifolia

Blossoms of snow

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Although not considered an emblem flower of the Carpathian Mts., Leontopodium alpinum – the Alps Edelweiss is much sought after. Whenever we had friends coming with us, they always wanted to see it growing on the mountain. It is not…
Aconitum anthora

And down we go…Aquilegia nigricans

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Before leaving the Bucegi Plateau, one more look at the grassland plant communities in the alpine areas revels associations of Carex, Luzula, Festuca, Sesleria, Agrostis, Nardus,and Poa species - lots of them! In the summer time you’ll…
Dianthus glacialis

Still botanizing in the Bucegi Plateau

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Geum reptans is an alpine gem of which I was able to collect a few seeds. Growing in crevices and spreading in mats over boulders, it was already past flowering during late July, and its ornamental fluffy seed heads were getting pink.…