Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Alpines => Topic started by: Katherine J on January 15, 2008, 08:19:57 AM

Title: What is this?
Post by: Katherine J on January 15, 2008, 08:19:57 AM

Hello everybody,
Has anybody any idea about what is this? It was on limestone in the Dolomites (Rautal), at about 1500 m, only one single plant. It was about 70 cm tall, the leaves narrow lanceolate. I think it is not specially an alpine, but I haven't seen it elsewhere. I thougth it was a Scorzonera... And an 'expert' here says it must be Lactuca perennis, but it is not, because the leaves were not like that.

Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: ranunculus on January 16, 2008, 07:53:50 PM

Hi Kathrine,   

I haven't forgotten you....I am going through a couple of books at the moment!

Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: Paddy Tobin on January 16, 2008, 08:11:40 PM

Does chicory grow there?

Paddy

Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: Maggi Young on January 16, 2008, 08:29:16 PM

I though of Scorzonera papposa....     I think that's the name but it is from Jordan and Israel  :-[

Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: Lvandelft on January 16, 2008, 09:20:38 PM

Maggi, it looks like this, but are the Dolomites in S.E. Europe?

Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: Maggi Young on January 16, 2008, 09:46:27 PM

Luit, I thought this plant was only from these western Med. regions, not from mainland Europe also.... so. if that is not the case then this may indeed be the correct name for this plant from the Dolomites ::) THis would seem western europe to me though ???  So does this species spread from SE Europe to how far ? Where, from the east to the west do you know?

Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: Lvandelft on January 16, 2008, 10:31:39 PM

Maggi I googled a little, and it seems a very interesting plant. It's edible, but if it has those black roots, I would prefer dark chocolate. :-X :D

Scorzonera papposa
Common name:   Family: Compositae
Author: DC. Botanical references: 93
Synonyms:   
Known Hazards: None known
Range: S. E. Europe to W. Asia.
Habitat: Limestone screes and slopes, fields, 300 - 1800 metres in Turkey[93].
Perennial growing to 0.3m. . The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil.
Habitats and Possible Locations
Cultivated Beds.
Edible Uses
Flowers; Leaves; Root.
Root - cooked[177].
Young leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked[177].
Flowers - raw[177].

Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: Katherine J on January 17, 2008, 10:20:04 AM

Quote from: Lvandelft on January 16, 2008, 09:20:38 PM

are the Dolomites in S.E. Europe?

I don't think so, Luit.

Maybe this plant was just on his vacation in the Dolomites  ;D ;D