Verča Kalníková
@vercakalnikova.bsky.social
botanist / vegetation ecologist / mountain lover / diver
Beskydy PLA (Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic) / Forestry project Aragvi PLA, Caucasus
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Veronika-Kalnikova
Beskydy PLA (Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic) / Forestry project Aragvi PLA, Caucasus
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Veronika-Kalnikova
It looks like we ate something, so maybe it wasn’t that dramatic 😀 Although... here’s the proof...
January 25, 2025 at 7:57 AM
It looks like we ate something, so maybe it wasn’t that dramatic 😀 Although... here’s the proof...
3️⃣0️⃣ Astragalus alopecurus. Occurs in W Alps, Corsica, Balkans, Caucasus, and Asia Minor to Central Asia, extending to Siberia. It grows in dry grasslands, steppes, shrubs, and open forests at 1000–1600 m a.s.l. This specimen grew on a river gravel bars among Hippophae rhamnoides shrubs.
December 30, 2024 at 9:23 AM
3️⃣0️⃣ Astragalus alopecurus. Occurs in W Alps, Corsica, Balkans, Caucasus, and Asia Minor to Central Asia, extending to Siberia. It grows in dry grasslands, steppes, shrubs, and open forests at 1000–1600 m a.s.l. This specimen grew on a river gravel bars among Hippophae rhamnoides shrubs.
2️⃣8️⃣ Noccaea rotundifolia, also known as Thlaspi, is an Alpine endemic growing on carbonate screes up to 3000 m. The Alpine scree vegetation class Thlaspietea rotundifolii is named after it. As a “snow runner,” its fruits are blown by the wind across the snow in winter, dispersing its seeds.
December 28, 2024 at 9:25 AM
2️⃣8️⃣ Noccaea rotundifolia, also known as Thlaspi, is an Alpine endemic growing on carbonate screes up to 3000 m. The Alpine scree vegetation class Thlaspietea rotundifolii is named after it. As a “snow runner,” its fruits are blown by the wind across the snow in winter, dispersing its seeds.
2️⃣6️⃣ Trifolium alpinum. Grows in mountains of southern and central Europe (Pyrenees, Alps, Apennines, Southern Carpathians) on silicate substrates, from montane to alpine zones, up to 3100 m. A perennial species intolerant to frequent mowing, it thrives in moderately dry mountain meadows and pastures.
December 26, 2024 at 11:06 AM
2️⃣6️⃣ Trifolium alpinum. Grows in mountains of southern and central Europe (Pyrenees, Alps, Apennines, Southern Carpathians) on silicate substrates, from montane to alpine zones, up to 3100 m. A perennial species intolerant to frequent mowing, it thrives in moderately dry mountain meadows and pastures.
2️⃣4️⃣ Leontopodium alpinum. Edelweiß, Planika... but most Christmas-like vibes come from Italian Stella alpina and French Étoile des Alpes - star of the Alps. This symbol of alpinism can be found in mount. of Central and S Europe, on alpine meadows, in rocky crevices, scree, up to 3000 m. Merry Xmas!
December 24, 2024 at 9:48 AM
2️⃣4️⃣ Leontopodium alpinum. Edelweiß, Planika... but most Christmas-like vibes come from Italian Stella alpina and French Étoile des Alpes - star of the Alps. This symbol of alpinism can be found in mount. of Central and S Europe, on alpine meadows, in rocky crevices, scree, up to 3000 m. Merry Xmas!
2️⃣2️⃣ Saxifraga stellaris. Arcto-Alpine species found from NE Canada to N Scandinavia. In S European regions inhabits mountain areas of Pyrenees, Massif Central, Alps, N Apennines, Corsica, and S Carpathians. Grows by springs, streams, snowbeds, moist rocks, montane to alpine zones, up to 3100 m.
December 22, 2024 at 11:25 AM
2️⃣2️⃣ Saxifraga stellaris. Arcto-Alpine species found from NE Canada to N Scandinavia. In S European regions inhabits mountain areas of Pyrenees, Massif Central, Alps, N Apennines, Corsica, and S Carpathians. Grows by springs, streams, snowbeds, moist rocks, montane to alpine zones, up to 3100 m.
2️⃣0️⃣ Hornungia alpina. Also known by its older genus names, Pritzelago or Hutchinsia. It is found in the mountains of W, S, and central Europe. Typically grows in alpine and subalpine zones on moist rocky screes or crevices. In the photo, it is with Luzula spicata and Nardus stricta.
December 20, 2024 at 4:29 PM
2️⃣0️⃣ Hornungia alpina. Also known by its older genus names, Pritzelago or Hutchinsia. It is found in the mountains of W, S, and central Europe. Typically grows in alpine and subalpine zones on moist rocky screes or crevices. In the photo, it is with Luzula spicata and Nardus stricta.
1️⃣8️⃣ Saxifraga aspera, or Rough Saxifrage, also not one of the prettiest, is native to the Eastern Pyrenees, Alps, and northern Apennines, at altitudes of 1400–3000 m. It grows on damp rocks, gravel, and moist stream banks, sometimes in turf. It prefers acidic soils and avoids calcareous substrates.
December 18, 2024 at 8:58 AM
1️⃣8️⃣ Saxifraga aspera, or Rough Saxifrage, also not one of the prettiest, is native to the Eastern Pyrenees, Alps, and northern Apennines, at altitudes of 1400–3000 m. It grows on damp rocks, gravel, and moist stream banks, sometimes in turf. It prefers acidic soils and avoids calcareous substrates.
1️⃣6️⃣ Linaria alpina. It is a prostrate to creeping plant that grows on shifting screes. It occurs in the mountains of central and southern Europe and can thrive at altitudes of up to 2800 m. Its range extends to Slovakia, where it is classified as critically endangered.
December 16, 2024 at 6:58 PM
1️⃣6️⃣ Linaria alpina. It is a prostrate to creeping plant that grows on shifting screes. It occurs in the mountains of central and southern Europe and can thrive at altitudes of up to 2800 m. Its range extends to Slovakia, where it is classified as critically endangered.
1️⃣4️⃣ Veronica fruticans is found in mountainous areas of southern and central Europe, the Arctic, and Greenland. It grows on sunny limestone cliffs, rocky slopes, and screes in subalpine and alpine zones. In the SW Alps, it may be mistaken for V. fruticulosa, which has pinkish flowers.
December 14, 2024 at 7:46 AM
1️⃣4️⃣ Veronica fruticans is found in mountainous areas of southern and central Europe, the Arctic, and Greenland. It grows on sunny limestone cliffs, rocky slopes, and screes in subalpine and alpine zones. In the SW Alps, it may be mistaken for V. fruticulosa, which has pinkish flowers.
1️⃣2️⃣ Scutellaria alpina. Mountains of southern and central Europe. It grows in pastures, meadows, rocky areas, and on limestone substrates, reaching up to the alpine zone at around 2500 m. This particular individual was evidently growing under suboptimal conditions – on the sands of river floodplain.
December 12, 2024 at 7:20 AM
1️⃣2️⃣ Scutellaria alpina. Mountains of southern and central Europe. It grows in pastures, meadows, rocky areas, and on limestone substrates, reaching up to the alpine zone at around 2500 m. This particular individual was evidently growing under suboptimal conditions – on the sands of river floodplain.
1️⃣0️⃣ Gypsophila repens. It grows in the N and S Limestone Alps, Northern Spain, and the Carpathians. Prefers calcareous rocky habitats and scree, at altitudes from 1300–3000 m, though it is frequently washed to lower elevations. A popular garden plant.
December 10, 2024 at 8:10 AM
1️⃣0️⃣ Gypsophila repens. It grows in the N and S Limestone Alps, Northern Spain, and the Carpathians. Prefers calcareous rocky habitats and scree, at altitudes from 1300–3000 m, though it is frequently washed to lower elevations. A popular garden plant.
8️⃣ Epilobium fleischeri. A strictly Alpine early successional species, it occurs on glacial moraines and river gravel bars, particularly on non-calcareous substrates. It has two closely related geographic vicariants: the circumpolar E. latifolium and E. colchicum in the Caucasus.
December 8, 2024 at 11:45 AM
8️⃣ Epilobium fleischeri. A strictly Alpine early successional species, it occurs on glacial moraines and river gravel bars, particularly on non-calcareous substrates. It has two closely related geographic vicariants: the circumpolar E. latifolium and E. colchicum in the Caucasus.
6️⃣ Achillea erba-rotta s. moschata. The strongly aromatic Alpine yarrow primarily grows in the central regions of the Swiss Alps. It occurs in sparse alpine grasslands on shallow, stony soils and stable scree with non-calcareous bedrock, at elevations ranging from 1700 to 2800 m.
December 6, 2024 at 11:17 AM
6️⃣ Achillea erba-rotta s. moschata. The strongly aromatic Alpine yarrow primarily grows in the central regions of the Swiss Alps. It occurs in sparse alpine grasslands on shallow, stony soils and stable scree with non-calcareous bedrock, at elevations ranging from 1700 to 2800 m.
4️⃣Saxifraga caesia. This species forms dense, grayish cushions. It grows on limestone rocks, scree, and, of course, river gravel bars, and is native to the mountains of Central and Southern Europe. It reaches the alpine zone.
December 4, 2024 at 7:45 AM
4️⃣Saxifraga caesia. This species forms dense, grayish cushions. It grows on limestone rocks, scree, and, of course, river gravel bars, and is native to the mountains of Central and Southern Europe. It reaches the alpine zone.
2️⃣Saxifraga aizoides. Arcto-alpine species, with range in the subarctic and Arctic regions of Europe and North America. It grows in rocky crevices, scree, on gravel bars, and at springs, more commonly on limestone. Generally prefers wetter, well-drained patches. In the Alps, it climbs up to 3000 m.
December 2, 2024 at 7:48 AM
2️⃣Saxifraga aizoides. Arcto-alpine species, with range in the subarctic and Arctic regions of Europe and North America. It grows in rocky crevices, scree, on gravel bars, and at springs, more commonly on limestone. Generally prefers wetter, well-drained patches. In the Alps, it climbs up to 3000 m.
Yes, it would be nice...
November 22, 2024 at 5:59 PM
Yes, it would be nice...
Reason for pollarding is to produce wood out of the reach of livestock, which would otherwise destroy the regrowth. This practice involves nearly all tree species in the area incl. birches, alders, beeches, and even spruces. Such trees serve as biodiversity hotspots, especially for insects.
November 20, 2024 at 9:09 AM
Reason for pollarding is to produce wood out of the reach of livestock, which would otherwise destroy the regrowth. This practice involves nearly all tree species in the area incl. birches, alders, beeches, and even spruces. Such trees serve as biodiversity hotspots, especially for insects.
In the Aragvi PLA (www.facebook.com/aragvisdacul...), many pollarded trees can still be found. This is a traditional method of management where branches are removed at regular intervals to obtain firewood or fodder for livestock.
November 20, 2024 at 9:05 AM
In the Aragvi PLA (www.facebook.com/aragvisdacul...), many pollarded trees can still be found. This is a traditional method of management where branches are removed at regular intervals to obtain firewood or fodder for livestock.
Mt. Ubistavi, samples collected at 2178 m a.s.l., southwest-facing slope orientation.
November 18, 2024 at 4:12 PM
Mt. Ubistavi, samples collected at 2178 m a.s.l., southwest-facing slope orientation.
Imagine that in the 6th century, this pastures were covered by forests — mountain oak woodlands with Quercus macranthera, endemic to the Eastern Caucasus, as evidenced by pedoanthracological data during our forestry project in the Aragvi Protected Landscape, Georgia www.uhul.cz/portfolio/pr...
November 18, 2024 at 3:51 PM
Imagine that in the 6th century, this pastures were covered by forests — mountain oak woodlands with Quercus macranthera, endemic to the Eastern Caucasus, as evidenced by pedoanthracological data during our forestry project in the Aragvi Protected Landscape, Georgia www.uhul.cz/portfolio/pr...
Don't forget the never-ending task of writing herbarium labels...
November 18, 2024 at 1:29 PM
Don't forget the never-ending task of writing herbarium labels...