Botanising in Malvik by Bike

[Stephenb]

1. We pass a small village with a crossroads to Venn (means “friend”), the mountain we’re aiming for is called Vennafjellet. Also on the signpost is Jøssåsen, which is a Rudolf Steiner community. “Skytebane” is a shooting range. The building is the old cooperative, closed a few years ago. We take the right turn.
2. Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) in full flower.
3. Our first view of the mountain
4. Hypericum spp (St. John’s Wort) seed heads from last year.
5. We’re now cycling along the River Vik and the terrain is getting more rugged.
6. Thalictrum alpinum (Alpine Meadow-rue) was growing beside the river.
7.  I was also looking for Oxyria digyna (Mountain Sorrel) along the river (it’s often found in the lowlands along rivers) but no luck. Then a few hundred metres on there was a blasted (for the road) rock face covered with this species.
8. I’ve several times seen alarming Greenshanks (Tringa nebularia) perched on the tree tops in this spot (http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/g/greenshank/index.aspx)
9. The road winds on upwards over a cattle grid.

[Stephenb]

Another stop at another rich roadside verge with 1) Antennaria dioica (Mountain Everlasting), 2) emerging Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea) and 3) Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsia)
4. The bogs at this elevation (350m) were white with flowering Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) with Cotton Grass adding to the effect.
5. Norwegians are keen on their cabins and I passed several signs inviting to buy your dream cabin in the mountains.
6. We’ve now turned off the main road and we’re back on a dirt road with only 3km to go, but we’re only just over half-way there elevation-wise…
7. Coralroot Orchid (Corallorhiza trifida) is an early bloomer and quite common in the mountains.
8. Bartsia alpina (Alpine Bartsia)
9. Andromeda polifolia (Bog Rosemary)
10. Viola biflora (Yellow Wood Violet), matches well my yellow jersey...

[fleurbleue]

Thanks to share these refreshing pics  Here, 33° to day 

[daveyp1970]

Stephen there are some fantastic plants there,the Coralroot Orchid (Corallorhiza trifida) is a fantastic thing.

[Stephenb]

Interesting to see the veined form of Geranium sylvaticum, I've only found it once down here, the white-flowered form is completely absent, we pretty much only have them in a dull shade of lilac.

I can't remember seeing it myself before either, not that I get out into the woods as much as I'd like.

Here's a close-up which I rejected as it was out of focus - I've just noticed what a fantastic pattern the "broad" veins make - almost a flower within a flower. How come??

[cohan]

Interesting to see the veined form of Geranium sylvaticum, I've only found it once down here, the white-flowered form is completely absent, we pretty much only have them in a dull shade of lilac.

I can't remember seeing it myself before either, not that I get out into the woods as much as I'd like.

Here's a close-up which I rejected as it was out of focus - I've just noticed what a fantastic pattern the "broad" veins make - almost a flower within a flower. How come??

this is very much like g richardsonii here--the 'pink' forms mostly appear so because of extra heavy veining, there are pure whites as well..

[Stephenb]

The final assault on “the summit”/ “King of the Mountains” stage…

1. More Moonworts (Botrychium) – my moonwort filter was obviously activated…(as often happens when you get your eye in you see the rarities all the time)
2. Polystichum lonchitis (Holly Fern) is a good-looking fern.
3. Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) again with flowering rowan on the hillside behind.
4. Bogbean has a very attractive flower when you get close up (not always easy due to its preference for wet places.
5. The mountain approaches, but somebody seems to have got there before me and have erected some kind of monument! The road can be seen meandering through the forest on the right hand side.
6. Mountain spruce forest, presumably still grazed by sheep.
7. Had to get off here!
8. Got off here too – an area covered with flowering Cloudberries (Rubus chamaemorus) together with two other berries: Bilberries and the edible but insipid Dwarf Cornel (Cornus suecica). Cloudberry picking is a national pastime here, somebody walking the hills with bucket in September is after only one thing: securing dessert for Christmas. Late frosts can however spoil everything.
9. Dwarf Cornel (Cornus suecica), the flowers a nice lime-green colour (does this signify that they have been pollinated?)
10. With the very cold June, I wondered if there might be any snowpatches left, this was the only one I could see as I approached the top (50m elevation to go). This final area is the habitat of a number of highland bird species, including Golden Plover, Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Redstarts and Ring Ouzel. I imagined the snow patch being a young albino Ring Ouzel… I hope one day to see a Bluethroat up here as it’s not uncommon in the surrounding mountains (http://www.naturalbornbirder.com/gallery/bluethroat_200__e.jpg).

[Maggi Young]

Dwarf Cornel (Cornus suecica), the flowers a nice lime-green colour (does this signify that they have been pollinated?)

That's a good question..... not that I know the answer..... but it is a good question......

[cohan]

i really like the C suecica--different enough from our canadensis to be worth growing...
as for green bracts, hmm, ours do that to, i think, but i'd have to watch some more to see what it signifies, my first impulse is to say those are immature flowers, certainly on canadensis they do not start out white, but rather become white, then move on to browning white, i think, not sure if there is a second greening... they are just at peak now..

[Stephenb]

The summit

1. Rounding the final bend I made that last dash for the "goal" (but, why had the locals erected a giant football here? Football worship? Well it is the World Cup final this week, as well as the Tour de Malvik). Yes, that’s Mountain Avens (Dryas octopetala) in the foreground.
2. More common to erect on mountain tops is a cabin as on this neighbouring hill.
3. Dryas heath with view over Trondheimsfjorden in the background from whence I had come. (Only the very top of the mountain has this alpine vegetation).
4. Dryas with Moss Campion (Silene acaulis)
5. Dryas octopetala, common, but always a joy to see (I remember many years ago seeing it for the first time right next to the sea in the Burren in Ireland!)
6. Dryas with Moss Campion
7. The white form of Silene acaulis
8. Betula nana (Dwarf Birch) has found a nice warm south-facing rock to shelter by.
9. Equisetum scirpoides (Dwarf Scouring Rush or Dwarf Horsetail)
10. Tofieldia pusilla (Dwarf False Asphodel) (Named after the Doncastrian botanist Thomas Tofield!)  

[Stephenb]

Some more from the alpine zone:

1. Cerastium spp.
2. Potentilla argentea (Silvery Cinquefoil)
3. Saxifraga cotyledon (Mountain Queen), a common species locally, vertical rock faces in some places turning white from the flowers of old growth plants.
4-5. Rhodiola rosea, Arctic Ginseng or Roseroot
6. Rhodiola and Diapensia lapponica
7. Mountain Azalea (Loiseleuria procumbens)
8. Polgonum viviparum (Alpine Bistort), alpine food…
9-10. Alchemilla alpina (Alpine Lady’s Mantle

[Stephenb]

Final set from the top of Vennafjellet:

1. Iceland Moss (Cetraria islandica) – was at one time an important food plant ground and used mixed with flour when it was in short supply. It is actually both tasty and nourishing.  It is also said to be a good replacement for bark (the cambium of various trees)!
2. Pinguicula and another lichen….
3. Even a fungus was found on the top – Helvella corium (I think!)

That’s it, folks. Now, the sound of the descent for the next 20 km: Wheeeeeeeee…. until I suddenly saw something familiar by the roadside and my already overheated brakes went into meltdown:

4-5. Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera montana) (I think?)

6-7. Finally, an old farm (established in the 1500s) on very steep hillside above the Homla river “canyon”. The waterfall at the head of the canyon is the second highest in my area (Trøndelag). I’ll maybe take you down there on my next trip…

I always thought of the flora in my local area as relatively poor, but having documented this bike ride (which I’ve done many times in the past) I think I’ve changed my mind. Thanks for the encouragement!  In a few hours you can see a good range of interesting plants. I’m not sure  though whether the cycling or putting the pictures together was the most tiring 

THE END

[Maggi Young]

This has been a terrific bike ride with you, Stephen, thanks for taking us along.
I imagine the picture preapration was in fact the hardest part.... I know these things take a lot of time and we really do appreciate your work on this, as we do all the forumists who make such extended contributions to the Forum, as the weeds grow ever highter in their gardens!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

An entry that definitely deserves the red dotted jersey Stephen ... or even better : the yellow jersey !! 

[Paul T]

Fantastic tour, Thanks.    Great to see so many wonderful new things including that wonderful Cornus (amongst other things).  Nice to see Viola biflora, that cute little yellow Violet.  I used to grow it here years ago but eventually lost it...... I have only ever seen it for sale the one time, and that was 15 to 20 years ago now, so it was great to see a pic of it again.  So much like the leaves and flowers of a violet, even if the growth habit is more like that of a viola.  I'm sure that will confuse people, given the things known as viola versus the genus Viola.    I do know what I'm talking about, honest!!