Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: Thomas Huber on April 09, 2008, 04:42:24 PM
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Hello everybody!
Chris and I have travelled through Italy from North to South to North and had a wonderful time,
with lots of nice impressions and plants. I would like to share some of them with you now:
1st Day
First crocus (vernus ssp vernus forma napolitanus) we found on Passo della Cisa near La Spezia.
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Me and Chris with the view from Passo della Cisa gen North with a traffic jam on the freeway/autobahn
in front of the tunnel through the mountain we've been visiting:
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Passo Cerreto was our next stop, where we had a wonderful view to the surrounding
mountains, the table mountain Pietra de Bismantova and Scilla biflora:
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Lunch on Passo Carpinelli:
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Crocus etruscus and a rare white Crocus vernus on the way to Pisa, where I tried to save the tower ;D
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Lovely pics Thomas, keep 'em coming.
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That is the best stopping-the-tower-leaning I have seen. It looks like your hands are around it. How many takes?
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A very nice start Thomas ! I bet you've seen lots more, so we'll be watching this space for more. 8)
Thanks !
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:) :) :) 8)
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Mark it was just one shot done by Chris - seems like he has the photogenic eye 8)
More photos will follow soon - of course !
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Great!
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2nd day:
In Tuscany we didn't find many plants, but the landscape and the sceneries were always great.
Typical Tuscanian village-on-the-hill are Piccioli and San Gimigniano: 8)
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Then we came to Larderello with its geothermal power generation and the ugly pipeworks
rolling through the Tuscanian landscape :P
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The most interesting botanical find together with Crocus etruscus seed-capsules
were Narcissus tazzeta growing beneath the street. This was the only Narcissus we found:
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The most promising botanical location for the Tuscany should be Monte Amiata behind Arcidosso (photo)
but the heavy snowfalls in the days before we arrived made it impossible to find any plants :-[
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Chris was very happy, when we met the coastline, even if it was not the Mediterranean Sea.
But soon dark clouds covered the sun above Lago di Bolsena:
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Thomas,
Both parts - fine pics - magic landscapes - the daffodil is Narcissus tazzetta - fine form!
Gerd
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Thomas ,with your height you could have picked a taller tower to demonstrate your strength. Nice photos of Tuscany- brings back memories.
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Thomas,
Both parts - fine pics - magic landscapes - the daffodil is Narcissus tazzetta - fine form!
Thanks for ID Gerd!
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3rd day
On our third day we explored the mountain ranges around Roma - starting with Monti Lucretilli:
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Followed by the impressive rock-buildings of Cervara di Roma in the Monti Simbruini:
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Later, while driving through a small village a pink clump catched my eye. We stopped and found this:
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Chris searching for Crocus imperati ssp suaveolens in the Monti Leppini!
Unfortunately we were to late to find flowers. Only some seedpods were found:
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In 1000 meters height we found Romulea bulbocodium in flower. Between the standard blue forms we
found one single white flower twice the size of the blue ones, and other things that everybody needs ;D
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Between some clumps of Crocus vernus napolitanus we found some interesting Snowdrops. I made more
shots of these plants, but didn't realise that they were fuzzy, so I have only one good photo to show for you:
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Very nice patch of Cycl. repandum, Thomas. And those hill villages are really amazing.
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Thomas
very nice pictures.Sorry you missed the crocus on MT Amiata but overall a very good trip.
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Great pictures, the cyclamen are wonderful.
Sue
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Thomas great pictures thanks - keep em coming!!
How long was the trip?
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Great trip Thomas and wonderful pictures, especially the Cyclamen repandum. Wish mine would grow like that. I hope you didn't strain your back, trying to right the tower. :) Chris will be tall as you are, soon.
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Ian, the trip was 8 days plus 2 days for driving to Italy and back to Germany.
Cyclamen repandum grows everywhere in the woods of South of Italy, but always as single plants.
This spot in Monti Simbruini was the very best we found!!
4th day
Finally we arrived on the Mediterranean Sea, but the weather has turned very bad as you can see.
Luckily this was the only rain we had during our holiday:
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Only an hour after we started the rain stopped and soon the sun came out again to brighten our
next stop at Monti Aurunci, where we met some locals ;D In the background the bay of Gaeta:
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One of the most impressive visits was the coastline from Sorrento to Amalfi. First a nice view over
the Bay of Napoli and Vesuvio, next the Northern coastline plus the Southern coastline near Positano;
Only a few photos of many, many more I made this afternoon:
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The extensive architecture of this area causes a big parking problem, beautiful demonstrated in this photo:
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No good plants were found near the coastline, but I've planed to make a trip into the mountains - unfortunately
2 of 3 pass-streets were closed :'( Anemone apennina was one of the few daylights we found:
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Our main aim was to find Crocus imperati ssp imperati, but again we were too late for flowers.
Here you can see Chris in typical imperati habitat collecting seeds:
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Two more photos of the Vulcano Vesuvio:
One for the postcard and one for reality :P
The rubbish-problem of Napoli was obvious everywhere :'(
Last photo shows the top of another mountain near Avellino.
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5th day:
There are also many beautiful mountain ranges in the back-country of Napoli. On one we found a
wonderful crocus-lawn. The plants are growing in very, very wet conditions:
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This is the second white Crocus vernus I've seen on the whole trip:
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Before we started we were told by a friend to be careful around Napoli - many kids have
disappeared in this area. But I don't think any bad guy would dare to catch Chris:
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This one is especially for Gerd Knoche. Don't know if it is something special or common:
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Chris searching for Cyclamen - don't worry, it wasn't as dangerous as it looks on the photo ;)
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For the night we choose a hotel on the beach in Agropoli:
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You're making us all green with envy Thomas - seems like you had a marvelous trip !
Can't wait to see the nex pix.
Thanks again for taking us along ! 8)
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5th day:
[This one is especially for Gerd Knoche. Don't know if it is something special or common:
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Thomas,
Thank you for the violet pic - but also for the other views from astonishing parts of Italy.
The violet is most probably Viola eugeniae of the Melanium (pansy) section. Of course special like all violets ;D
Gerd
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Thomas,
a super trip. 8)
Very interesting to see the flooded crocus lawn.
Question remains whether this was accidentally or this happens regular to this place.
I wonder if many corms will rott later or stay alive...
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Marvellous pictures Thomas. It's great that Chris enjoys these plant hunting trips as much as you do.
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Thomas,
a super trip. 8)
Very interesting to see the flooded crocus lawn.
Question remains whether this was accidentally or this happens regular to this place.
I wonder if many corms will rott later or stay alive...
Armin we found the crocus near the snowline, so I think they will be flooded each year.
I think the lawn will be dryer in summer!
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6th day
We started early and had a good view to the Basilicatian coastline:
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After leaving the coast we drove to the Monti Sirino with its highest peak Monte del Papa where we found Cyclamen repandum en masse, plus Scilla biflora and Anemone apennina:
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Here some typical villages in Basilicata. Unfortunately I forgot to note their names – hope you will enjoy the views even so:
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Thomas,
Most interesting pics - just as good as the others!
Was there some variation in Anemone apennina (some whites or darker tones)?
Gerd
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Yes, Gerd, we found all variations from white to blue and also intermediates!
6th day the second
On our way to the Apulian Eastcoast we found Romulea bulbocodium and an Ornithogalum (complete name would be appreciated):
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Arriving in Apulia we found this Tulipa sylvestris growing in a field near Matera:
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Sorry for the fuzzy photo (Hermodactylus tuberosus), it was made when the sun stood very deep:
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And finally a riddle for Anthony Darby: What is this and what do they do???
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Thomas,
Thank you - dark blues also?
Maybe the Iris is Hermodactylus tuberosus - not completely sure.
Gerd
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Thomas,
Thank you - dark blues also?
Maybe the Iris is Hermodactylus tuberosus - not completely sure.
Gerd
Not as dark blue as Anemone blanda "Blue Shades" :-\
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The caterpillars may be these:
http://web.cortland.edu/fitzgerald/PineProcessionary.html
Nice pics from what looks to have been a very enjoyable trip.
Cheers
Mick
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Hi Thomas, just found the pictures of your trip.
Beautiful and interesting.
Looks you had more nice days than we had in our short trip to Switzerland.
We saw the tulips too. You might have a look at the topic Tulipa sylvestris.
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Thanks Mick for the help - these caterpillars were found in a pinewood, so I guess you're right!
Hi Luit and welcome back. Didn't you have good weather in Switzerland? Where have you been?
Your plants look much "wilder" than mine ;)
7th day Gargano
From our hotel it was just half an hour to Gargano, so we decided to have a look there. Here are
just a few plants we found. Any ID for the orchid?
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7th day the second: Campo Imperatore/Abruzzo
From Gargano we used the Autobahn to Abruzzo, with the Corno Grande - the highest mountain
in the middle of Italy:
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On the way up were lots of crocus vernus:
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On top of the pass street we were welcomed by this great sight - hope your monitor is big enough ;)
The panorama-photo shows Campo Imperatore, a high alpine plain, 30km long, in an altitude of 1500m:
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Looking from the top, the plain looked like pure snow, but driving down we saw the first dark blotches of
melted snow - covered in a soft blue of thousands of Crocus vernus. What a great sight this must be,
if we were two weeks later :o
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Wonderful pictures Thomas !
What an impressive background for these brave Crocusses ... and equally brave Chris ;D
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A wonderful trip Thomas. Thanks for sharing it with us. I love those caterpillars, but NZ's MAF would throw a major fit, if they were to enter li'l ol' Noo Ziland! ;D ;D ;D
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Oh, a nearly white Anemone apennina! Thank you Thomas.
Concerning the the caterpillars I have a speculation. They are en route
to the Monte del Papa (6th day)? ;D
Gerd
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Hi Luit and welcome back. Didn't you have good weather in Switzerland? Where have you been?
Your plants look much "wilder" than mine ;)
Thomas we were with friends near Schaffhausen and visited Bern and Zürich.
We had one day with about 10 C. the other days were not over 5 C. with very cold winds.
Not good for botanizing! :( 8)
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Thank you very much for this diary Thomas. :) These places look rather different in august. :(
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What a great trip Thomas thanks for sharing
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Thank you very much for this diary Thomas. :) These places look rather different in august. :(
Katarine you should try to visit your relatives in Frosinone in spring, not in summer when everything is burned down by the sun!
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8th day
Starting from L'Aquila in the morning we had planed to visit Forresta Casentinesi and Monte Subasio on the way
to Alberto Grossi, but meanwhile something like homesickness has appeared in our minds. It was good to make
such a men's trip without the girls but now it seems like we really miss Tanja and Celine :-\ :'(
So we decided to make just a short stop on Monte Subasio and Assisi:
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Early in the afternoon we arrived in Grossi's botanical garden.
While Chris was relaxing in his garden, Alberto and I made a trip through the garden.
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Again I have to say, many, many thanks to Alberto and his Mama
for the good service we achieved. It was very nice with you and I
hope we will meet again soon!!!
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You have noticed, that the sun was still shining. But this has changed soon: After we had left the
Lötschberg-Tunnel (the geographical border from South to North-Europe) we didn't see a single sunshine :-[
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So you see, Luit, you've been too far North in Switzerland - behind the Gotthard-Tunnel you would have had better weather!
That's the end of the story - hope you have enjoyed the trip and the photos have helped to give a new
impression of this beautiful country, far away from crowded beaches on the Adria.
Each of the locations we have visited would be worth a visit of a week or more alone, but unfortunately we
didn't have the time. We decided to visit them all and I would do it again if I had the chance. It was very
exhausting but worth every minute, that's what also Chris tells everybody who's asking him!
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Wonderful trip Thomas....I enjoyed every mile...many thanks for taking the time and trouble to post.
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What a wonderful story Thomas. We were there with you both, all the way. Super plants, places and best of all, people. Many thanks.
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Wonderful trip Thomas! I wear beautiful memories of Campo Imperatore.
It is Hermodactylus tuberosus and Tulipa silvestris.
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Brilliant - when Chris has grown and left the nest and my girls have done the same I might finally have time to come with you ..... and perhaps we can take longer over it!!! :) Mind you, I do not want to wish the years away. :-\
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Franz, thanks for the confirmation of Gerd's ID for Hermodactylus tuberosus and Tulipa sylvestris.
Tony I'm still hoping, that we can make a hike together this summer!!!
I'm glad to let you join my virtual trip 8)
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Dear Thomas thanks for sharing the pictures and events.
Nice to see orchids in the wild :)
I am not an expert on orchids but I like them an Yours were an Orphys so much is sure.
Using a book I got it to Orphys lutea subsp lutea.
Please correct me if I am wrong or confirm if I am right.
Once again thanks for sharing 8)
Kind regards
Joakim
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Thanks for ID Joakim, but I can neither correct nor confirm - I'm far away from being an orchid expert :-\
Perhaps anybody else can do that for me?
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Thanks for ID Joakim, but I can neither correct nor confirm - I'm far away from being an orchid expert :-\
Perhaps anybody else can do that for me?
I'm not an orchid expert either, but I agree it's Ophrys lutea.
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Hi Thomas and Diane
I saw a different subsp. shown here on the forum by Ibrahim, that is O. lutea subsp minima and that also fits with the description I have in "Field guide to Orchids of Britain and Europe" By Buttler as minima. The book is nice but a bit old so there might have been name changes but obviously not here.
Here is the other O.lutea this time from Turkey
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1547.msg41625#msg41625
I think the subsp of the plant Thomas saw is lutea, but anyway it is a great treat to see them.
Kind regards
Joakim
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In the last days I have made another trip to Italy to explore the most interesting locations of the 2008 trip more closely.
Here some Orchid photos for which I have no idea what they are, can anybody help???
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Hi Thomas ,
I'm really not a specialist for orchids ..but I think I know this plant : Holunderorchidee
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holunder-Knabenkraut
I saw it before some years en masse in Sicily ....
Hans
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Hi Thomas,
the first orchid should be Orchis papilionacea
then Orchis morio
the single yellow one could also be an orchis and not a Dactylorhiza, perhaps pauciflora
but the mixture of red an yellow plants are Dactylorhizas. Maybe sambucina, although there are different species in the south!
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Good morning Herbert and thanks for your help.
Finally I have names for these beauties :D
Here some more photos from this years trip:
- Cyclamen repandum
- streetlife in the Italian mountains
- a beautiful morning in Tuscany
- Orvieto near Rome
- View over the Bay of Naples to the Vesuvio
- View to Capri
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Hi Thomas,
Especially the repandums are stunning - looking forward to further
impressions! Thank you!
Gerd
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My pleasure, Gerd.
Here some specials for you:
- Viola from Abbruzo mountains
- Opi in the Abbruzo mountains
- More Cyclamen with unpleasant 'neighbourplants' >:(
- white cover on Monte Amiata, again we didn't find any plants on top of Tuscanies biggest mountain :-[
- next day we had good weather on the beach in Lido di Fondi. Same hotel as 3 years ago
- Chris' black socks ;D
- Anemone ranunculoides
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Wonderful images Thomas, except the unpleasant 'neighbourplants' >:(.
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Thomas! Amazing trip it was! BRAVO! 8)
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Thanks Armin.
Dima, my tour is not to compare with your wonderful snowdrop trip - I only found them once in fruit :(
Here two more unknown plants, I think Allium?
Any tipps for a name?
- some more unpleasant finds - these weeds grow everywhere in Italy :-[ >:( :o
- Breakfast on top of the pass street
- also the car needed some dessert-oil
- what do they want to save here? Better let it fall down ???
- wonderful view to the Amalficoast and Salerno
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It could be a stoned camel. ;D
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It could be a stoned camel. ;D
My goodness... I see exactly what you mean.... it DOES look like a camel....
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Great to see pictures of your trip. That lad of yours is growing up, each year I think he looks more like his father :)
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Hello Thomas!
The Allium could be triquetum!
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Great to see pictures of your trip. That lad of yours is growing up, each year I think he looks more like his father :)
You're right, Tony - and really: What a good looking boy he is 8)
Herbert, you could be right with Allium triquetum. The second could be Allium trifoliatum?
Some more photos from the trip.
- Anemone apennina was growing everywhere, but only in a few places they grew en masse like in the photos below. I looked for special forms but didn't find any, just white, blue and intermediates.
- between this wet moss-cushions I found a lot of Galanthus nivalis in fruit
- only flying this plane is better than driving my car ;D by the way: it will reach 20 years this year
- this year we decided to visit the volcano Vesuvius. The view inside and the sulfur clouds were impressive, but if I knew before what kind of traffic awaited me there, I would have cancelled the visit :-X
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My pleasure, Gerd.
Here some specials for you:
- Viola from Abbruzo mountains
Thank you Thomas,
The pansy is great - difficult to determinate without further details.
Possible are Vv. magellensis (viola de Majella), pseudogracilis, graeca and eugeniae.
- the name doesn't matter - all are beautiful!
Gerd
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Thanks for ID Gerd. I didn't realize that these were so many different species, thought this is just one variable species.
Due to late Easter this year our trip was far apart from Crocus flowers, but finally - on our last day - we found some in flower on 1900m. Just 'standard-Italian-napolitanus' but nevertheless we found some remarkable flowers and an albino form.
- Chris phoning with Mama when we had dinner in Subiaco ...
- ...and a wonderful view out of the hotel window. Subiaco is a wonderul small town and a good starting point for journeys in the neighbouring mountains.
- View to the monastary on Monte Vergine
- View from our hotel in Tuscany, nearly on 900m and highly recommendable.
- Helleborus ? growing through rubbish >:(
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Thanks for ID Gerd. I didn't realize that these were so many different species, thought this is just one variable species.
You are welcome, Thomas!
You are right, if you found the pansies shown growing alltogether it would be quite possible that it is one species regardless of the colour of their flowers.
I only noted the pansies which could be found within the part of Italy you visited.
Gerd