During the summer, the Alpine Androsace flowers in the middle of the rocky scree at an altitude of over 2500 m to produce small white to pink flowers, placed above a dense green cushion located at ground level.
In partnership with the Savoie Mont-Blanc University, S3V created a species observatory in 2023 to initially count the number of cushion plants in the Méribel-Mottaret valley floor. In the first year, 2,000 cushion plants were identified , demonstrating the value of this study, which reveals that the Alpine Androsace, a protected species, is recolonizing slopes that were resurfaced more than 10 years ago.
Androsace of the Alps – identity card
Scientific name : Androsace alpina (L.) Lam.
Family Primulaceae
Morphological description
- Perennial, dwarf plant, forming loose cushions.
- Small, lanceolate, pointed leaves, imbricated in columns, covered with star-shaped hairs (shaped like deer antlers).
- Flowers usually white or pink, sometimes purplish, less than 1 cm in diameter.
Habitat and ecology
- Endemic to the Alps, found on siliceous soils (fine scree, rocky grasslands, moraines, rocky ridges).
- Subalpine and alpine zones, between 2200 and 3550 m altitude.
- Very rare, prefers open and sunny environments.
Geographical distribution
- Alpine chain, from Haute-Savoie to Alpes-Maritimes in France.
- Also present in other Alpine massifs, with a high concentration in Vanoise.
Protection status: Species protected at the national level in France.
Adaptation: the cushion shape is an adaptation to the extreme conditions of high altitudes (wind, cold, drought).
References : INPN, Écrins National Park, Vanoise National Park, Florealpes, Flora Gallica.
This observatory also serves as a bioclimatic indicator to assess the effects of climate change on a plant species typical of the mountain environment.
To date, we have identified 4,152 Alpine Androsace cushions , mainly on Méribel-Mottaret, most of which are concentrated on the northern slopes of Mont Vallon and Borgne.
Biodiversity
