Finse July 2016. Some plants from the central mountain area in Norway

[Hoy]

That would be the train line featured in that wonderful movie "O`Horten"?

You are right Ralph. I have not seen that movie so I had to look it up

[Hoy]

Hi Trond,

The photographs are completely fascinating! Many of the species are familiar to me. Some are very new to me. At the high elevations, such as where you are now, what species make up the bulk of the greenery? At high altitudes in the Sierra Nevada Poaceae and Cyperaceae can be very dominant. Even on the highest peaks one can find Carex species or Elymus elymoides. Of coarse, there are choice Eriogonum species, and others too. It seems Mosses and/or Lichens are very common where you are now?

Anyway, very cool.        I am enjoying the sights immensely. By the way, the first photograph of the train tracks and station seems very familiar. You have been to the area before?

Glad you like it Robert

I will show you examples of the dominating species in the area. It depend of course of the soil/rock, exposure, snow cover and moisture. Sedges, grasses and rushes are often dominant genera among the higher plants. Mosses and lichens are very common also and it is several different species.

You are right Robert, I have been here before and I have shown  pictures before

Here is an example of a plant community at 1550m. Flowering plants are dominating although not all flower regularly.



Species: Sibbaldia procumbens, Taraxacum sp, Salix herbacea, Saussurea alpina, Veronica alpina, Thalictrum alpina, Carex sp.

[Hoy]

Here are some other examples of plant communities, all above 1500m.

Dryas octopetala. Typical on calcareous soil. Here it covers several hectares. Unfortunately it is to late for blooming.




Sedges and grasses on poorer soil. Here it looks wet due to heavy rain recently. Also Silene wahlbergella (syn Melandrium apetala) was common on this spot.




Diphasiastrum alpinum is common and here it covers 90% of the area. A few Silene suecica can be seen. I suspect that the rocks here contain heavy metals, maybe copper.




Salix herbacea can cover vast areas, especially where the now melts late.




Erigeron uniflorus and lichen. The Erigeron is variable, especially in flower colour.

[Hoy]

More naked areas exist also of course.




With no soil few plants grow except Ranunculus glacialis. The colour changes from white to reddish when pollinated.






Views. The Hardangerjøkelen (Hardanger Glacier) to the south.

[Maggi Young]

Wow! 

[Robert]

Trond,

Very fascinating information! 

And the terrain has a very stark beauty. It must be a enjoyable experience to be there in person. It seems to be an awesome wide open county (no trees) very much like the arctic.

Sibbaldia procumbens grows in the Sierra Nevada, however I rarely come across it. Taraxacum sp. and Rumex acetosella, Sheep Sorrel, are invasives often found in high mountain meadows - left-overs from the grazing days in the high Sierra (approx. 1850 + or  - to 1960 - 70). Other plants such as Thalictrum, Erigeron, or Ranunculus grow in the Sierra Nevada, but as different species.

In addition, even within the small area of the Lyon's Creek Drainage there appears to be at least 10-15 different species of Carex (it will take a considerable amount of observation on my part to come up with a more precise total). This all within an area above 2,000 meters.

Anyway, it is all very fascinating. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to more, as possible. 

[Gabriela]

Trond - it seems this is 'the end' of Finse so I can express my admiration Robert found the right words - a stark beauty!
I like it very much every time I see the associations of lichens and little plants, too bad is hard to reproduce such in the garden (at least not in mine). Silene suecica is well worth cultivating.

[Hoy]

Trond - it seems this is 'the end' of Finse so I can express my admiration Robert found the right words - a stark beauty!
I like it very much every time I see the associations of lichens and little plants, too bad is hard to reproduce such in the garden (at least not in mine). Silene suecica is well worth cultivating.

Hi Gabriela,

It is not the end yet although I am back at the cabin. I have only a slow internet connection at the moment so it takes time to upload pictures! In addition I am outside a lot - not on the internet

I'll bring a few more pictures the next days.

[Hoy]

Trond,

Very fascinating information! 

And the terrain has a very stark beauty. It must be a enjoyable experience to be there in person. It seems to be an awesome wide open county (no trees) very much like the arctic.

Sibbaldia procumbens grows in the Sierra Nevada, however I rarely come across it. Taraxacum sp. and Rumex acetosella, Sheep Sorrel, are invasives often found in high mountain meadows - left-overs from the grazing days in the high Sierra (approx. 1850 + or  - to 1960 - 70). Other plants such as Thalictrum, Erigeron, or Ranunculus grow in the Sierra Nevada, but as different species.

In addition, even within the small area of the Lyon's Creek Drainage there appears to be at least 10-15 different species of Carex (it will take a considerable amount of observation on my part to come up with a more precise total). This all within an area above 2,000 meters.

Anyway, it is all very fascinating. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to more, as possible. 

I stayed there 5 days and had two days with sun (one day rather warm to be up there too) and three days with rain. My rain gear is good so I stayed dry even after 8 hours in constant rain! So it is enjoyable even in rain - if you don't get wet and cold.

The Taraxacums are native and I don't know how many species it is there. As you know they are apomictic! I think it is more than a dozen species of Carex but many are very similar.

[Hoy]

Rhodiola rosea - it grows at the coast and at the highest peaks! Male (yellow) and female plants.






Cerastium alpinum.




Saxifraga cespitosa.




Sibbaldia procumbens close-up.

[Hoy]

Veronica fruticans is common on calcareous soil up here.




Potentilla crantzii.




Cardamine bellidifolia is usually found in crevices or among rocks.




Salix reticulata grows both on dry and moist sites.




Taraxacum sp. Not all dandelions are weeds.

[Gabriela]

A good name for that Cardamine Trond, it's one I've never encounter. If I may ask, what's the brand of your amazing rain gear please?

[Hoy]

A good name for that Cardamine Trond, it's one I've never encounter. If I may ask, what's the brand of your amazing rain gear please?

Cardamine bellidifolia is rather common in the mountains here. You will even find it at Svalbard.

My rain gear, if I can do some PR here, is Bergans of Norway's Bygdin:

https://www.xxl.no/bergans-bygdin-jacket-skalljakke-herre/p/1093267_6_style

[Hoy]

More flowers:

Saussurea alpina. Common up here but not uncommon at lower altitudes either.




Salix lapponum.




Ranunculus acris ssp pumilus. It can be much smaller than this also.




Parnassia palustris.




Saxifraga aizoides in schist.
In the valleys the bedrock consists mostly of gneiss. The highest peaks are also usually gneiss, but between these layers layers is a layer of Cambro-Silurian schist.

[Hoy]

A meadow at 1500m.




A very wet Myosotis decumbens.




Dancing Saxifraga cernua in the rain.




Although it is too late for Saxifraga oppositifolia a few late specimens could still be found in flower.




Draba norvegica, a variable species.