Bee Orchid
Ophrys apifera – Ophrys abeille – Bienen-Ragwurz – Ofride fior d’ape
Just one of the weird and wonderful so-called insect orchids, this resembles a bee. The exquisite flowers have pink-purple outer lips framing a deep brown velvet man-like figure. It flowers May–June on grassy places in patches across the Alps up to 1800m altitude. See also other orchids: Black Vanilla; Yellow: Elder-flowered and Lady’s Slipper; Purple: Broad-leaved Marsh, Common Spotted and Heath Spotted; White: Burnt, Musk and Small White.
Bird’s-eye Primrose
Primula farinosa – Primevère farineuse – Mehl-Primel – Primula farinosa
This dainty Primrose has a multitude of light pink-lilac flowers, each with five toothed petals and a tiny yellow eye, atop a slender stalk. Sprouting from the base are pale grey-green veined leaves that contain a white farinaceous powder. It flowers May–August on marshes and damp meadows up to 3000m altitude. See also Stinking Primrose; Yellow: Bear’s-ear, Oxlip and Primrose; Purple: Marginate Primrose.
Black Vanilla Orchid
Nigritella nigra – Orchis vanillé – Schwarzes Männertreu – Nigritella comune
Rich alpine meadows are often dotted with tiny dark brown-reddish orchids that go unnoticed by the uninitiated eye. Close up, the surprisingly strong vanilla-cocoa scent is evident and according to alpine hearsay, cows that eat them produce chocolate-flavoured milk! The flower can be rounded or pyramidal and also comes in pink. It flowers June–August up to 2800m altitude. See also other orchids: Bee; Yellow: Elder-flowered and Lady’s Slipper; Purple: Broad-leaved Marsh, Common Spotted and Heath Spotted; White: Burnt, Musk and Small White.
Carthusian Pink
Dianthus carthusianorum – Oeillet des Chartreux – Gewöhnliche Karthäuser-Nelke – Garofano dei Certosini
Thin leaves are placed at intervals on tall slender stalks that bear dense clusters of vivid deep pink-purple flowers with a central patch of white, serrated petals and a brown-purple calyx. It flowers May–August to 2500m altitude across most of the Alps. Dianthus derives from the ancient Greek for ‘flower of the Gods’, although ‘Pink’ was probably first used for the flower and later extended to the colour. The plant was popular in Roman times for ceremonies, while the Arabs appreciated its scented species for distilling perfume; no wonder the Crusaders brought it back to Europe. See also Large, Maiden and Three-veined Pink.
Catsfoot, Mountain Everlasting, Cudweed
Antennaria dioica – Pied de chat dioïque – Gewöhnliches Katzenpfötchen – Antennaria dioica
Unusual pale pink, reddish or white flowers with multiple petals surrounding a darker centre punctuated with multiple protruding stamens. The stalks are long and thick and several leaves attached, though the majority are around the base, silvery grey and oval. The plant is reportedly helpful in treating gastric ailments. Commonly found, it flowers June–August on dry heaths, rocks and meadows up to 3000m altitude.
Caucasian Stonecrop
Sedum spurium – Orpin bâtard – Kaukasus-Fetthenne – Sedo del Caucaso
This plant originally hailed from the Caucasus region but is now naturalised across the Alps, with the exception of the southwest. Its fleshy rounded leaves form open rosettes and attractive white-red or pink star-shaped flowers tightly grouped together. It grows in dense carpets on stony wastes up to 1800m altitude, and flowers June–August. The genus name derives from the Latin for ‘settle’ as the leaves of some species are believed to bring relief for wounds. As Stonecrops are commonly found on walls and roofs, they were popularly believed to protect houses from lightning strikes and fires. See also Yellow: Biting and Creamish Stonecrop; White: Thick-leaved Stonecrop.
Cobweb House-leek
Sempervivum arachnoideum – Joubarbe aranéeuse – Filzige Spinnweb-Hauswurz – Semprevivo ragnateloso
Minuscule leaf rosettes coated in a cobweb of down typify this succulent. A lover of rocky crannies and dry but sun-blessed terrain, it grows at 1700–3000m altitude. By far the brightest of its kind, its brilliant red star flowers may be streaked with purplish pink, on reddish-brown stalks. As with the other house-leeks, in addition to resembling a triffid, it holds true to the sempervivum (ever alive) designation and does not die back during winter. It flowers July–September. See also Common and Mountain House-leek; Yellow: Wulfen’s House-leek.
Common Bistort
Polygonum bistorta – Renouée bistorte – Schlangen-Knöterich – Poligono bistorta
Meadows smothered with pink-tipped spikes are a common foreground to the Alps. These spikes bear a tight cluster of tiny flowers that sway in the breeze, and long oval leaves grow alongside. The strange name refers to its ‘many-kneed’ jointed root. It flowers at length May–September up to 2500m altitude. See also White: Alpine Bistort.
Common House-leek
Sempervivum tectorum – Joubarbe des toits – Dach-Hauswurz – Semprevivo dei tetti
Dull pink flowers with a yellow centre and a perfectly circular display of delicate stamens distinguish this evergreen House-leek. A large tall plant, it has an especially stocky stalk tinged reddish-brown and smallish blue-green-red basal rosettes. It is distributed in large patches across most of the Alps, except for the northeast. It flowers June–September on grassy and rocky terrain up to 2800m altitude. See also Cobweb and Mountain House-leek; Yellow: Wulfen’s House-leek.
Common Lungwort
Pulmonaria officinalis – Pulmonaire officinale – Echtes Lungenkraut – Polmonaria officinale
The crepe-like flowers begin life pink but gradually assume a bluish-purple hue, so the plant often sports dual colours. It has long been used in the treatment of coughs and lung ailments. The leaves are hairy with large light blotches and shaped like elongated hearts. It flowers in damp woods March–May up to 1900m altitude, and is widespread except for the eastern Alps.
Cowberry
Vaccinium vitis-idaea – Airelle rouge – Preiselbeere – Mirtillo rosso
Delicate
