Wild flowers of the Alps
Of course there are far less species of mammals, insects or trees in the Alps compared to centres of megadiversity like the tropical rain forest. However, you can encounter a diversity of wild flowers, that can’t be bet by the tropical rain forest. One reason for this extraordinary richness of flowers is the diversity of geological formations of the Alps that came into existence during their complicated past. Within a few kilometres of Pfeiffermühle for instance, one can find four different geological formations. Another reason for the diversity of wild flowers was the continuous change of the environment shaping the Alps during their billion year old history: once a shallow topical sea, then collision zone of continental plates followed by erosion caused by several glaciations. That’s how the different habitats and ecosystems were formed like mountain creek, alpine forest, alpine fen, bog, heath, moor, meadow, grassland, marsh, etc., each characterized by a specific and highly adapted plant community. Finally, cattle grazing by made the Allgäu look like it is today.
So far we found more than 400 species of higher plants near Pfeiffermühle, not counting ornamental plants, grasses, mosses and ferns. And our checklist is steadily growing...
Click here to get to the flower galery
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Poisonous Plants
Did you know that a few leaves of the deadly nightshade contains the deadly dose for an adult? 10 times more poisonous is the European Monkshood, and even deadlier are poisons and venoms of certain snakes, frogs, mushrooms and bacteria.
“Carnivorous “Plants
Only certain, well adapted plants can grow on soils that are poor in nitrogen. Plants of the pea family like clover, beans and lupines are associated with bacteria that fix nitrogen from the air and provide the plant with the required nitrogen fertilizer. Another strategy is used by “carnivorous” plants that trap and digest insects and other arthropods in order to get nitrogen compounds. The tropical pitcher plants and the Venus flytrap and the native sundew and butterwort are carnivorous plants. The latter are protected and can be found in humid habitats of the Alps.
Rare in many areas but common around Pfeiffermühle: the Common Butterwort
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