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The

Alps The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...

are one of the great mountain range systems of Europe stretching approximately 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) across eight Alpine countries from Austria and Slovenia in the east, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, France to the west and Italy and Monaco to the south. The flora of the Alps are diverse. In the

mountain A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually higher ...

s, the

vegetation Vegetation is an assemblage of plant species and the ground cover they provide. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic charac ...

gradually changes with

altitude Altitude or height (also sometimes known as depth) is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The exact definition and reference datum varies according to the context ...

, sun exposure, and location on the mountain. There are five successive

life zone The life zone concept was developed by C. Hart Merriam in 1889 as a means of describing areas with similar plant and animal communities. Merriam observed that the changes in these communities with an increase in latitude at a constant elevation ar ...

s, each with distinct

landscape A landscape is the visible features of an area of land, its landforms, and how they integrate with natural or man-made features, often considered in terms of their aesthetic appeal.''New Oxford American Dictionary''. A landscape includes the ...

s and vegetation characteristics: premontane, montane, subalpine,

alpine Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to: Places Europe * Alps, a European mountain range ** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range Australia * Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village * Alpine National P ...

, and alvar.

List of Alpine plants

A

*'' Achillea atrata'' *'' Aconitum lycoctonum'' *''

Aconitum napellus ''Aconitum napellus'', monkshood, aconite, Venus' chariot or wolfsbane, is a species of highly toxic flowering plant in the genus ''Aconitum'' of the family Ranunculaceae, native and endemic to western and central Europe. It is an herbaceous pere ...

'' *''

Adenostyles alliariae ''Adenostyles alliariae'' is herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the ord ...

'' *''

Adenostyles leucophylla ''Adenostyles'' is a genus of flowering plants in the sunflower family Asteraceae, and of the tribe Senecioneae. It was described as a genus in 1816. ''Adenostyles'' occur in the temperate climates of the northern hemisphere, mainly in Europe an ...

'' *'' Agrimonia eupatoria'' *''

Alchemilla alpina ''Alchemilla alpina'', commonly known as alpine lady's-mantle, is an arctic-montane herbaceous perennial plant native to Europe and Southern Greenland. Alpine lady's-mantle has been used for centuries as an herbal remedy, and is used in horticult ...

'' *'' Allium insubricum'' *''

Androsace alpina ''Androsace alpina'', or Alpine rock-jasmine, is an alpine plant, endemic to the Alps. Distribution In the wild, ''Androsace alpina'' grows on silicaceous substrates, particularly granite, and is one of the few plants in the Alps to grow above ...

'' *'' Androsace brevis'' *'' Androsace carnea'' *'' Anemone vernalis'' *''

Antennaria dioica ''Antennaria dioica'' (mountain everlasting, stoloniferous pussytoes, catsfoot or cudweed) is a Eurasian and North American species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is a perennial herb found in cool northern and mountainous regions ...

'' *'' Aquilegia alpina'' *'' Arctostaphylos alpinus'' *'' Arenaria pseudofrigida'' *'' Armeria alpina'' *'' Arnica montana'' *'' Artemisia mutellina'' *''

Asphodelus albus ''Asphodelus albus'', common name white asphodel, is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the genus ''Asphodelus''. Description White asphodel grows to a height of . The plain stem is supported by fleshy, thickened roots ( rhizomes). The l ...

'' *''

Aster alpinus ''Aster alpinus'', the alpine aster or blue alpine daisy, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the mountains of Europe (including the Alps), with a subspecies native to Canada and the United States. This herbaceou ...

'' *'' Astrantia major''

C

*''

Caltha palustris ''Caltha palustris'', known as marsh-marigold and kingcup, is a small to medium size perennial herbaceous plant of the buttercup family, native to marshes, fens, ditches and wet woodland in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It flowe ...

'' *''

Campanula barbata ''Campanula barbata'', common name bearded bellflower, is a perennial flowering plant in the bellflower family Campanulaceae The family Campanulaceae (also bellflower family), of the order Asterales, contains nearly 2400 species in 84 genera ...

'' *'' Campanula persicifolia'' *''

Campanula thyrsoides ''Campanula thyrsoides'' is a flowering plant belonging to the family Campanulaceae. Etymology The species name “thyrsoides” derives from the Latin " thyrsus" (a staff of giant fennel covered with ivy vines and leaves and associated with Di ...

'' *''

Campanula zoysii ''Favratia zoysii'', known commonly as Zois' bellflower, Zoysi's harebell, or crimped bellflower, is the sole member of the genus ''Favratia'', closely related to '' Campanula '' (bellflowers). Distribution and habitat The plant is endemic to Au ...

'' *''

Carlina acanthifolia ''Carlina'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It is distributed from Madeira and the Canary Islands across Europe and northern Africa to Siberia and northwestern China.Kovanda, M. (2002)Observations on ''Carlina bieberste ...

'' *''

Carlina acaulis ''Carlina acaulis'', the stemless carline thistle, dwarf carline thistle, or silver thistle, is a perennial dicotyledonous flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to alpine regions of central and southern Europe. The specific name ''ac ...

'' *''

Carlina vulgaris ''Carlina vulgaris'', the carline thistle, is a plant species of the genus ''Carlina''. It is a biennial that grows on limestone, chalky or other alkaline grasslands or dunes. The flowers are clusters of very small brown florets surrounded by bro ...

'' *'' Carex curvula'' *''

Centaurea jacea ''Centaurea jacea'', brown knapweed or brownray knapweed, is a species of herbaceous perennial plants in the genus ''Centaurea'' native to dry meadows and open woodland A woodland () is, in the broad sense, land covered with trees, or in a ...

'' *'' Centaurea montana'' *''

Centaurea phrygia ''Centaurea phrygia'', commonly called wig knapweed, is a species of ''Centaurea ''Centaurea'' () is a genus of over 700 species of herbaceous thistle-like flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Members of the genus are found only north o ...

'' *''

Centaurea scabiosa ''Centaurea scabiosa'', or greater knapweed, is a perennial plant of the genus ''Centaurea''. It is native to Europe and bears purple flower heads. Greater knapweed is found growing in dry grasslands, hedgerows and cliffs on lime-rich soil. Upr ...

'' *'' Chamerion angustifolium'' *'' Chenopodium bonus-henricus'' *''

Cicerbita alpina ''Cicerbita alpina'', commonly known as the alpine sow-thistle or alpine blue-sow-thistle is a perennial herbaceous species of plant sometimes placed in the genus ''Cicerbita'' of the family Asteraceae, and sometimes placed in the genus ''Lactuca ...

'' *'' Cicerbita plumieri'' *'' Cirsium spinosissimum'' *''

Clematis alpina ''Clematis alpina'', the Alpine clematis, is a flowering deciduous vine of the genus ''Clematis''. Like many members of that genus, it is prized by gardeners for its showy flowers. It bears 1 to 3-inch spring flowers on long stalks in a wide v ...

'' *'' Crocus vernus'' *'' Cyclamen europaeum'' *''

Cypripedium calceolus ''Cypripedium calceolus'' is a lady's-slipper orchid, and the type species of the genus ''Cypripedium''. It is native to Europe and Asia. Taxonomy ''Cypripedium'' comes from the Greek Κυπρισ πεδιον (''Kupris pedion''), meaning Ven ...

D

*'' Dactylorhiza fuchsii'' *'' Dactylorhiza maculata'' *''

Daphne cneorum ''Daphne cneorum'', the garland flower or rose daphne, is a species of flowering plant in the family Thymelaeaceae, native to the mountains of central and southern Europe. It is a prostrate spreading evergreen shrub to , grown for its dense ...

'' *''

Dianthus monspessulanus ''Dianthus monspessulanus'', the fringed pink, is a herbaceous perennial plant of the genus ''Dianthus'' of the family Caryophyllaceae. The genus name ''Dianthus'' derives from the Greek words for divine ("dios") and flower ("anthos"), while the ...

'' *'' Dianthus pavonius'' *''

Digitalis grandiflora ''Digitalis grandiflora'', the yellow foxglove, big-flowered foxglove, or large yellow foxglove, is a species of flowering plant in the genus ''Digitalis'', family Plantaginaceae (formerly Scrophulariaceae). It is native to southern Europe and As ...

'' *''

Digitalis lutea ''Digitalis lutea'', the straw foxglove or small yellow foxglove, is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family (botany), family Plantaginaceae, that is native species, native to western and southern Europe and North West Africa. A shor ...

'' *'' Digitalis purpurea'' *'' Doronicum grandiflorum'' *'' Dryas octopetala''

E

*''

Erinus alpinus ''Erinus alpinus'', the fairy foxglove, alpine balsam, starflower, or liver balsam, is a species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae (previously in the family Scrophulariaceae), native to Central and Southern Europe. and also to Mo ...

'' *'' Eriophorum angustifolium'' *'' Eritrichium nanum'' *'' Eryngium alpinum''

G

*''

Gentiana acaulis ''Gentiana acaulis'', the stemless gentian, or trumpet gentian, is a species of flowering plant in the family Gentianaceae, native to central and southern Europe, from Spain east to the Balkans, growing especially in mountainous regions, such as ...

'' *'' Gentiana alpina'' *'' Gentiana kochiana'' *'' Gentiana lutea''* *'' Gentiana nivalis'' *''

Gentiana verna ''Gentiana verna'', the spring gentian, is a species of flowering plant in the family Gentianaceae, and one of its smallest members, normally only growing to a height of a few centimetres. The short stem supports up to three opposing pairs of e ...

'' *'' Geranium silvaticum'' *'' Geum montanum'' *''

Gymnadenia conopsea ''Gymnadenia conopsea'', commonly known as the fragrant orchid or chalk fragrant orchid, is a herbaceous plant of the family Orchidaceae native to northern Europe. Etymology The name of the genus ''Gymnadenia'' is formed from Greek words (', ...

H

*'' Heracleum sphondylium'' *'' Hieracium alpinum'' *''

Hieracium pilosella ''Hieracium'' (), known by the common name hawkweed and classically as (from ancient Greek ιεράξ, 'hawk'), is a genus of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, and closely related to dandelion ('' Taraxacum''), chicory (''Cichorium'' ...

'' *'' Hieracum intybaceum''

I

*'' Inula montana'' *'' Iris pseudacorus''

L

*''

Leontopodium alpinum ''Leontopodium nivale'', commonly called edelweiss (german: Alpen-Edelweiß, English pronunciation ), is a mountain flower belonging to the daisy or sunflower family Asteraceae. The plant prefers rocky limestone places at about altitude. It is ...

'' *'' Leucanthemopsis alpina'' *'' Lilium bulbiferum'' *'' Lilium martagon'' *''

Linaria alpina ''Linaria alpina'', sometimes called alpine toadflax, is a purple-flowered plant native to mountainous areas of southern and central Europe. It belongs to the family Plantaginaceae (plantain family; unrelated to the fruit). It is found in many m ...

'' *'' Loiseleurie couchée''

M

*''

Melampyrum arvense ''Melampyrum arvense'', commonly known as field cow-wheat, is an herbaceous flowering plant of the genus '' Melampyrum'' in the family Orobanchaceae. It is striking because of the conspicuous spike of pink or purple terminal bracts which includes ...

'' *'' Melampyrum nemorosum'' *''

Melampyrum pratense ''Melampyrum pratense'', the common cow-wheat, is a plant species in the family Orobanchaceae. The seed of the plant has an elaiosome, which is attractive to wood ants (''Formica'' spp.). The ants disperse the seeds of the plant when they tak ...

'' *'' Micranthes stellaris'', syn. ''Saxifraga stellaris''

N

*'' Nigritella rhellicani''

O

*''

Ophrys fuciflora ''Ophrys holosericea'', the late spider orchid, is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, native to western and central Europe and the Mediterranean region. There has been considerable confusion about the identity of this species ...

'' *'' Opuntia''Michel Desfayes
''Les opuntias du Valais, un problème épineux''
Bulletin de la Murithienne, 2007, no. 125, p. 29-40

P

*'' Papaver hi'' *'' Papaver rhaeticum'' *'' Phyteuma hemisphaericum'' *'' Phyteuma spicatum'' *''

Pinguicula alpina ''Pinguicula alpina'', also known as the alpine butterwort, is a species of carnivorous plant native to high latitudes and altitudes throughout Eurasia. It is one of the most widespread ''Pinguicula'' species, being found in mountainous regions ...

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Pinguicula grandiflora ''Pinguicula grandiflora'', commonly known as the large-flowered butterwort, is a temperate insectivorous plant in the Lentibulariaceae Lentibulariaceae is a family of carnivorous plants containing three genera: '' Genlisea'', the corkscrew pl ...

'' *'' Pinguicula vulgaris''

R

*'' Ranunculus glacialis'' *'' Ranunculus pyrenaeus'' *''

Rhododendron ferrugineum ''Rhododendron ferrugineum'', the alpenrose, snow-rose, or rusty-leaved alpenrose is an evergreen shrub that grows just above the tree line in the Alps, Pyrenees, Jura and northern Apennines, on acid soils. It is the type species for the genus ' ...

'' *''

Rosa pendulina ''Rosa pendulina'', (syn. ''Rosa alpina''), the Alpine rose or mountain rose, is a species of wild rose found in the mountains of central and southern Europe. It appears to have survived in glacial refugia in the Alps and Carpathians, and spread ...

'' *''

Rumex crispus ''Rumex crispus'', the curly dock, curled dock or yellow dock, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae, native to Europe and Western Asia. Description The plant produces an inflorescence or flower stalk that grows to high. ...

'' *'' Rumex nivalis''

S

*'' Saxifraga oppositifolia'' *'' Saxifraga paniculata'' *''

Scabiosa columbaria ''Scabiosa columbaria'', called the small scabious or dwarf pincushion flower, is a widespread species of flowering plant in the genus '' Scabiosa'', native to Europe, Africa, and western Asia, from Sweden to Angola. In the garden it is a short-l ...

'' *''

Scabiosa lucida ''Scabiosa lucida'', commonly known as shining scabious, is a species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often d ...

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Scilla bifolia ''Scilla bifolia'', the alpine squill or two-leaf squill, is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from an underground bulb,Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia - Edagricole – 1982 Vol. III, pg. 365 belonging to the genus '' Scilla'' of the family Aspa ...

'' *'' Sempervivum archnoideum'' *'' Sempervivum montanum'' *'' Senecio doronicum'' *'' Senecio fuchsii'' *'' Senecio leucophyllus'' *''

Silene acaulis ''Silene acaulis'', known as moss campion or cushion pink, is a small mountain-dwelling wildflower that is common all over the high arctic and tundra and in high mountains of Eurasia and North America (Alps, Carpathians, southern Siberia, Pyrenee ...

'' *'' Silene rupestris'' *''

Silene vulgaris ''Silene vulgaris'', the bladder campion or maidenstears, is a plant species of the genus ''Silene'' of the family ''Caryophyllaceae''. It is native to Europe, where in some parts it is eaten, but is also widespread in North America, where it ...

'' *'' Soldanella alpina'' *'' Stipa pennata''

T

*'' Trifolium alpinum'' *''

Trollius europaeus ''Trollius europaeus'', the globeflower, is a perennial flowering plant of the family Ranunculaceae. The plant is native to Europe and Western Asia and is a protected species in Russia and Bulgaria. In Udmurtia Udmurtia (russian: Удму ...

V

*''

Veratrum album ''Veratrum album'', the false helleborine, white hellebore, European white hellebore, or white veratrum (syn. ''Veratrum lobelianum'' Bernh.) is a poisonous plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is native to Europe and parts of western Asia (weste ...

References

External links

{{Commons, Alpine flora
Michael Hassler

University of Karlsruhe The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT; german: Karlsruher Institut für Technologie) is a public university, public research university in Karlsruhe, Germany. The institute is a national research center of the Helmholtz Association. KIT wa ...

. *Alps *Alps .Alps

Alps