Image of Dwarf Alpenrose

Description:

Slo.: slenik - Habitat: Mountain pasture, south inclined mountain slope, calcareous, stony ground, full sun, open place, exposed to direct rain, elevation 1.850 m (6.100 feet), average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 0 - 2 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: soil among rocks. - Comments: Rhodothamnus chamaecistus is certainly one of the most noticeable and beautiful flowers of our mountains. It sometimes makes large parts of mountain slopes red similarly like Rhododendron hirsutum, which is his close relative. Both plants belong to the family Ericaceae. The flowers appear in hundreds, each may have up to 3 cm in diameter. Numerous, long and colorful stamens give to the flowers of Rhodothamnus chamaecistus a tender appearance at close look. The plant is (almost) endemic to East Alps. It can be found also in Dinaric Mountains, but not in the west half of the Alps. The plants photographed were growing in numerous large patches full of flowers. - Ref.: (1) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 630. (2) T. Wraber, 2 x Sto alpskih rastlin na Slovenskem, Preernova druba (2006) (in Slovene), p 118. (3) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora sterreich Liechtenstein, Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 662. (4) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije, Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007) (in Slovene), p 485.