Flower Spotting in the Dolomites – Botanical Discoveries from One Week of Hiking

Overview | Notes | Photos | List of Plants by Hike

A sampling of some of the flowers in this post. Upper left: Physoplexis comosa - Tufted Horned Rampion. Upper right: Lilium martagon - Common Turk's Cap Lily. Lower left: Potentilla nitida - Pink Cinquefoil. Lower right: Clematis alpina - Alpine Clematis.

Overview

We recently spent one week hiking based in Colfosco, South Tyrol Italy. This post documents the plants we identified during our hikes. The details and itinerary of our hikes are covered in the companion post: A Hiking Week in the Dolomites, Val Badia and Val Gardena.

Our recommended flower identification resources are listed in our post: Resources for Identifying Plants around Bergamo. For identification in this post, we relied primarily on these sources:

• Web site: Checklist Flora for Trentino-Alto Adige
• Web site: Flore Alpes
• Book: Fiori di montagna delle Alpi Sud Occidentali by Iolanda Armand Ugon and Giovanni Manavella.
• Book: Fiori alpini – Kompass Guida naturlistica

Accuracy: Some plants identified may be in flux in terms of accepted names. We try to use the most current accepted naming and stick close to the checklist web site given above. By our own assessment, family and genus identification are about 98% accurate and species identification is about 95% accurate. If we are uncertain about the species, we give a likely species name and indicate that it's a "guess". If we have no idea about the species, we just use “sp.”.

Methodology: With 90% or more of the plants, we know right away what the family is. From there, it’s a matter of narrowing down the genus. To judge between similar species, we use flowering time and altitude to guide us. If our choice comes down to a very common species and a less common one with the same flowering period and altitude, we go with the common species.

Photography: These photos were captured with two cell phones and one traditional camera: an iPhone 11, a Google Pixel 4, and a Canon Eos M6 with a 100 mm macro lens. Almost all the close-up shots are from the Canon EOS. We have pretty good geolocation data for each photo but in the interest of time do not include that with each photo. The name of the hike defines the general area of observation along with trail indications. We rarely ventured off trail to get a photo.

Photo Processing: If needed any of the following were used: cropping, leveling, correcting white balance, adjusting light level to bring up detail, applying noise filters for low light photos, and applying gamma for color. No special effects or filters were used.

Notes

Interesting botanical mentions during our one week include:

Orange and Martagon Lilies

In the Liliaceae family, we saw Lilium bulbiferum - Orange Lily and Lilium martagon - Common Turk's Cap Lily, including an all white variation of the Turk's Cap. For six days we kept seeing lilies on the side of the road while driving but never hiking. Only on the last day, on our hike up behind Colfosco did we hit a nice patch of lilies including the white martagon lily.

Tufted Horned Rampion

We've always seen pictures of this plant but never saw one in person until our Nuvolau/Cinque Torre hike and really just one. This rampion, in the Campanulaceae family, has the scientific name Physoplexis comosa. Merriam-Webster says that the common name rampion may come from a Middle French term meaning turnip; rampions have edible tubers.

Jacquin's Rush

Usually grasses, sedges and rushes are hard for us to tell apart and we don't include them in our posts, but this one was fascinating and easy to identify with its tassels. Jacquin's Rush, obviously in the rush family Juncaceae, has the scientific name Juncus jacquini. Yes, we remember the rhyme "Sedges have edges, and rushes are round, but grasses have nodes from their tips to the ground."

Vanilla Orchids

These orchids were abundant on a few of our hikes. Be sure to get down and smell them next time you see them. We decided they smelled like chocolate chip cookies. The darker species is Gymnadenia rhellicani - Black Vanilla Orchid and the reddish one is Gymnadenia rubra - Red Vanilla Orchid.

Photos

Plant photos are listed alphabetically by family name, genus, and species. The close up photos were all taken with the Canon EOS M6.

[Amaryllidaceae] Allium schoenoprasum – Wild Chives (Erba cipollina)


[Asteraceae] Achillea clavennae – Silvery Yarrow (Millefoglio di Clavena)

[Asteraceae] Aster alpinus – Blue Alpine Daiy (Astro alpino)


[Asteraceae] Cirsium erisithales – Yellow Thistle (Cardo zampa d'orso)


[Asteraceae] Cirsium spinosissimum – Spiniest Thistle (Cardo spinosissimo)


[Asteraceae] Leontopodium alpinum – Edelweiss (Stella alpina)

[Asteraceae] Centaurea uniflora – Plume Knapweed (Fiordaliso alpino con un capolino)
 

[Asteraceae] Hypochaeris uniflora – (Costolina alpina)


[Asteraceae] Hieracium aurantiacum – Orange Hawkweed (Sparviere aureo)

[Boraginaceae] Myosotis sp. – Forget Me Not (Nontiscordardimè) 

[Brassicaceae] Biscutella laevigata – Buckler Mustard (Biscutella montanina)

[Brassicaceae] Noccaea rotundifolia – Round Leaved Penny Cress (Erba storna a foglie rotonde)

[Campanulaceae] Campanula barbata – Bearded Bellflower (Campanula barbatata)

[Campanulaceae] Campanula cochleariifolia – Earleaf Bellflower (Campanula con foglie di coclearia)

[Campanulaceae] Campanula glomerata – Clustered Bellflower (Campanula agglomerata) - based on flower time

[Campanulaceae] Physoplexis comosa – Tufted Horned Rampion (Raponzolo delle rocce)

[Campanulaceae] Phyteuma orbiculare – Round Headed Rampion (Raponzolo orbicolare)

[Campanulaceae] Phyteuma ovatum - Dark Rampion (Raponzolo)

[Caprifoliaceae] Knautia sp. – Scabiosa (Ambretta) – could be K. longifolia


[Caryophyllaceae] Cerastium latifolium – Broad Leaved Mouse Ear (Peverina latifoglia)

[Caryophyllaceae] Dianthus sylvestris – Wood Pink (Garafano selvatico)

[Caryophyllaceae] Gypsophila repens – Creeping Baby's Breath (Gipsofila striscante)

[Caryophyllaceae] Silene acaulis - Moss Campion (Silene a cuscinetto)

[Caryophyllaceae] Silene dioica – Red Campion (Silene dioica)

[Caryophyllaceae] Silene nutans – Nottingham Catchfly (Silene pendente)

[Caryophyllaceae] Silene vulgaris – Bladder Campion (Silene comune)

[Crassulaceae] Sedum atratum – Dark Stonecrop (Borracina verde scura)

[Cyperaceae] Eriophorum scheuchzeri – White Cotton Grass (Pennacchi di Sceuchzer)

[Ericaceae] Pyrola rotundifolia – Wild Lily of the Valley (Piroletta a foglie rotonde)

[Ericaceae] Rhodothamnus chamaecistus – Ground Cistus (Rododendro cistino)

[Ericaceae] Rhododendron ferrugineum – Rusty-Leaved Alpenrose (Rododendro rosso)

[Ericaceae] Rhododendron hirsutum – Hairy Alpenrose (Rododendro peloso)

[Fabaceae] Hedysarum hedysaroides – Alpine Sainfoin (Sulla alpina)


[Fabaceae] Lupinus polyphyllus – (Lupino a foglioline numerose) - based on flowering time


[Fabaceae] Oxytropis neglecta – Samnitic Milk Vetch (Astragalo ignorato)


[Fabaceae] Anthyllis vulneraria – Lady’s Fingers (Vulneraria)


[Fabiaceae] Astragalus penduliflorus – Mountain Lentil (Astragalo a fiori penduli)



[Fabiaceae] Trifolium badium – Brown Clover (Trifoglio bruno)


[Gentianaceae] Gentiana acaulis – Trumpet Gentian (Genziana acaule)


[Gentianaceae] Gentiana punctata – Spotted Gentian (Genziana punteggiata)


[Gentianaceae] Gentiana urticulosa – Bladder Gentian (Genziana alata)



[Geraniaceae] Geranium pratense – Meadow Geranium (Geranio di prato)



[Melanthiaceae] Veratrum lobelianum – False Hellebore (Veratro comune)

[Liliaceae] Lilium martagon – Common Turk's Cap Lily (Giglio a turbante) - including white specimen

[Liliaceae] Lilium bulbiferum – Orange Lily (Giglio rosso)

[Lamiaceae] Stachys alopecuros – (Betonica bianca)


[Lamiaceae] Clinopodium alpinum – Alpine Calamint (Acino alpino)


[Juncaceae] Juncus jacquinii – Jacquin's Rush (Guinco id Jacquin)

[Orchidaceae] Dactylorhiza maculata – Heath Spotted Orchid (Orchide macchiata)


[Orchidaceae] Dactylorhiza traunsteineri – Narrow-leaved marsh orchid or Traunsteiner's dactylorhiza (Orchide di Traunsteiner)


[Orchidaceae] Gymnadenia rhellicani – Black Vanilla Orchid (Nigritella comune)

[Orchidaceae] Gymnadenia rubra – Red Vanilla Orchid (Nigritella rossa)



[Orobanchaceae] Pedicularis sp.

[Orobanchaceae] Bartsia alpina – Velvet Bells (Bartsia delle Alpi)

[Orobanchaceae] Rhinanthus alectorolophus – Greater Yellow Rattle (Cresta di gallo comune)

[Orobanchaceae] Orobanche sp. – Broomrape (Succiamele) possibly O. flava or O. rapum-genistae


[Orobanchaceae] Orobanche gracilis – Slender Broomrape (Succiamele rossastro)

[Papaveraceae] Papaver alpinum – Rhaetian Poppy (Papavero alpino)

[Plantaginaceae] Globularia cordifolia – Matted Globularia (Vedovella a foglie cordate)

[Plantaginaceae] Linaria alpina – Alpine Toadflax (Linajola alpina)

[Plantaginaceae] Paederota bonarota – (Bonarota comune)

[Plantaginaceae] Veronica sp. possibly alpina – Alpine Speedwell (Veronica delle Alpi)

[Plumbaginaceae] Ameria alpina – Thrift (Spillone alpino)

[Polygonaceae] Bistorta officinalis – Meadow Bistort (Poligono bistorta)

[Polygonaceae] Bistorta vivipara – Alpine Bistort (Poligono viviparo)

[Polygonaceae] Rumex alpinus – Monk's Rhubarb (Romice alpino)

[Primulaceae] Primula farinosa – Bird's Eye Primrose (Primula farinosa)

[Primulaceae] Soldanella alpina – Alpine Snowbell (Soldanella comune)

[Primulaceae] Primula auricula – Bear's Ear (Primula orecchia d'orso)

[Ranuculaceae] Clematis alpina – Alpine Clematis (Clematide alpina)

[Ranunculaceae] Aconitum lycoctonum – Wolf's-bane (Aconito lupaia)

[Ranunculaceae] Aquilegia atrata – Dark Columbine (Aquilegia scura)

[Rosaceae] Dryas octopetala – White Dryas (Camedrio alpino)

[Rosaceae] Geum rivale – Purple Avens (Cariofillata dei ruscelli)


[Rosaceae] Potentilla nitida – Pink Cinquefoil (Cinquefoglia delle Dolomiti)


[Rosaceae] Rosa sp. – Rose (Rosa)


[Saxifragaceae] Saxifraga aizoides – Yellow Saxifrage (Sassifraga gialla)

[Saxifragaceae] Saxifraga paniculata – Livelong Saxifrage (Sassifraga pannocchiuta)

[Thymelaeceae] Daphne striata – Striped Daphne (Dafne striata)


[Violaceae] Viola biflora – Yellow Violet (Viola con due fiori)

List of Plants by Hike

Each hike here matches a hike described in the companion post A Hiking Week in the Dolomites, Val Badia and Val Gardena. which gives more details about each hike. By far not all the flowers we saw are listed, just ones we could at least identify family and genus.

Below, we list items as [Family] Genus species - English common name (Italian common name).


Pisciadu Hike
Photo Code: Pis
Hike Date: 2020-07-10

[Asteraceae] Hieracium aurantiacum – Orange Hawkweed (Sparviere aureo)

[Asteraceae] Adenostyles sp.
[Boraginaceae] Myosotis sp. – Forget Me Not (Nontiscordardimè)

[Brassicaceae] Biscutella laevigata – Buckler Mustard (Biscutella montanina)
[Brassicaceae] Noccaea rotundifolia – Round Leaved Penny Cress (Erba storna a foglie rotonde)

[Campanulaceae] Campanula glomerata – Clustered Bellflower (Campanula agglomerata) - based on flower time.
[Caryophyllaceae] Silene vulgaris – Bladder Campion (Silene comune)

[Cyperaceae] Eriophorum scheuchzeri – White Cotton Grass (Pennacchi di Sceuchzer)

[Ericaceae] Pyrola rotundifolia – Wild Lily of the Valley (Piroletta a foglie rotonde)

[Ericaceae] Rhododendron ferrugineum – Rusty-Leaved Alpenrose (Rododendro rosso)
[Fabaceae] Anthyllis vulneraria – Lady's Fingers (Vulneraria)

[Fabiaceae] Astragalus penduliflorus – Mountain Lentil (Astragalo a fiori penduli)

[Gentianaceae] Gentiana acaulis – Trumpet Gentian (Genziana acaule)

[Gentinaceae] Gentiana sp. – Gentian (Genziana)
[Geraniaceae] Geranium pratense – Meadow Geranium (Geranio di prato)

[Orobanchaceae] Orobanche gracilis – Slender Broomrape (Succiamele rossastro)

[Orobanchaceae] Pedicularis sp. – Lousewort (Pedicolare)
[Papaveraceae] Papaver alpinum – Rhaetian Poppy (Papavero alpino)

[Plantaginaceae] Globularia cordifolia – Matted Globularia (Vedovella a foglie cordate)

[Polygonaceae] Bistorta vivipara – Alpine Bistort (Poligono viviparo)
[Primulaceae] Soldanella alpina – Alpine Snowbell (Soldanella comune)

[Ranunculaceae] Aconitum lycoctonum – Wolf's-bane (Aconito lupaia)

[Rosaceae] Geum rivale – Purple Avens (Cariofillata dei ruscelli)

[Rosaceae] Potentilla nitida – Pink Cinquefoil (Cinquefoglia delle Dolomiti)

[Thymelaeceae] Daphne striata – Striped Daphne (Dafne striata)

[Violaceae] Viola biflora – Yellow Violet (Viola con due fiori)

Scotoni Hike
Photo code: Sco
Hike Date: 2020-07-12

[Asteraceae] Achillea clavennae – Silvery Yarrow (Millefoglio di Clavena)

[Asteraceae] Aster alpinus – Blue Alpine Daiy (Astro alpino)

[Asteraceae] Leontopodium alpinum – Edelweiss (Stella alpina)

[Asteraceae] Pilosella aurantiaca – Orange Hawkweed (Sparviere aranciato)
[Campanulaceae] Phyteuma orbiculare – Round Headed Rampion (Raponzolo orbicolare)

[Caryophyllaceae] Cerastium latifolium – Broad Leaved Mouse Ear (Peverina latifoglia)

[Papaveraceae] Papaver alpinum – Rhaetian Poppy (Papavero alpino)

[Rosaceae] Potentilla nitida – Pink Cinquefoil (Cinquefoglia delle Dolomiti)

Sassopiatto Hike
Photo code: Sas
Hike Date: 2020-07-13

[Boraginaceae] Myosotis sp. – Forget Me Not (Nontiscordardimè)

[Brassicaceae] Biscutella laevigata – Buckler Mustard (Biscutella montanina)

[Brassicaceae] Noccaea rotundifolium – Round Leaved Penny Cress (Erba storna a foglie rotonde)

[Caryophyllaceae] Silene acaulis - Moss Campion (Silene a cuscinetto)
[Ericaceae] Rhododendron ferrugineum – Rusty-Leaved Alpenrose (Rododendro rosso)
[Fabaceae] Hedysarum hedysaroides – Alpine Sainfoin (Sulla alpina)

[Gentianaceae] Gentiana punctata – Spotted Gentian (Genziana punteggiata)

[Orobanchaceae] Bartsia alpina – Velvet Bells (Bartsia delle Alpi)

[Papaveraceae] Papaver alpinum – Rhaetian Poppy (Papavero alpino)

[Plantaginaceae] Linaria alpina – Alpine Toadflax (Linajola alpina)

[Ranunculaceae] Aconitum lycoctonum – Wolf's-bane (Aconito lupaia)

[Ranunculaceae] Aquilegia atrata – Dark Columbine (Aquilegia scura)

[Rosaceae] Dryas octopetala – White Dryas (Camedrio alpino)

Alpe di Cisles
Photo Code: Cis
Hike Date: 2020-07-14

[Asteraceae] Achillea clavennae – Silvery Yarrow (Millefoglio di Clavena)

[Asteraceae] Hypochaeris uniflora – (Costolina alpina)
[Asteraceae] Cirsium spinosissimum – Spiniest Thistle (Cardo spinosissimo)

[Asteraceae] Leontopodium alpinum – Edelweiss (Stella alpina)

[Campanulaceae] Phyteuma orbiculare – Round Headed Rampion (Raponzolo orbicolare)

[Campanulaceae] Phyteuma ovatum - Dark Rampion (Raponzolo)
[Caprifoliaceae] Knautia sp. – Scabiosa (Ambretta) – could be K. longifolia
[Caryophyllaceae] Dianthus sylvestris – Wood Pink (Garafano selvatico)

[Caryophyllaceae] Silene dioica – Red Campion (Silene dioica)

[Caryophyllaceae] Silene nutans – Nottingham Catchfly (Silene pendente)

[Caryophyllaceae] Silene vulgaris – Bladder Campion (Silene comune)

[Crassulaceae] Sedum atratum – Dark Stonecrop (Borracina verde scura)

[Ericaceae] Rhododendron ferrugineum – Rusty-Leaved Alpenrose (Rododendro rosso)
[Fabaceae] Anthyllis vulneraria – Lady’s Fingers (Vulneraria)
[Fabaceae] Oxytropis neglecta – Samnitic Milk Vetch (Astragalo ignorato)

[Geraniaceae] Geranium pratense – Meadow Geranium (Geranio di prato)

[Juncaceae] Juncus jacquinii – Jacquin's Rush (Guinco id Jacquin)

[Lamiaceae] Clinopodium alpinum – Alpine Calamint (Acino alpino)

[Orchidaceae] Gymnadenia rhellicani – Black Vanilla Orchid (Nigritella comune)

[Orchidaceae] Gymnadenia rubra – Red Vanilla Orchid (Nigritella rossa)

[Orobanchaceae] Pedicularis sp.
[Orobanchaceae] Bartsia alpina – Velvet Bells (Bartsia delle Alpi)

[Orobanchaceae] Rhinanthus alectorolophus – Greater Yellow Rattle (Cresta di gallo comune)
[Plantaginaceae] Paederota bonarota – (Bonarota comune)

[Plantaginaceae] Globularia cordifolia – Matted Globularia (Vedovella a foglie cordate)

[Polygonaceae] Bistorta officinalis – Meadow Bistort (Poligono bistorta)

[Polygonaceae] Bistorta vivipara – Alpine Bistort (Poligono viviparo)

[Polygonaceae] Rumex alpinus – Monk's Rhubarb (Romice alpino)

[Primulaceae] Primula farinosa – Bird's Eye Primrose (Primula farinosa)

[Rosaceae] Alchemilla sp.
[Rosaceae] Dryas octopetala – White Dryas (Camedrio alpino)

[Rosaceae] Geum rivale – Purple Avens (Cariofillata dei ruscelli)

[Saxifragaceae] Saxifraga paniculata – Livelong Saxifrage (Sassifraga pannocchiuta)

Monte Nuvolau and Cinque Torre Hike
Photo code: Nuv
Hike Date: 2020-07-15

[Amaryllidaceae] Allium schoenoprasum – Wild Chives (Erba cipollina)

[Campanulaceae] Campanula barbata – Bearded Bellflower (Campanula barbatata)

[Campanulaceae] Physoplexis comosa – Tufted Horned Rampion (Raponzolo delle rocce)

[Caryophyllaceae] Silene nutans – Nottingham Catchfly (Silene pendente)

[Ericaceae] Pyrola sp. – Wild Lily of the Valley (Piroletta) - can't see the leaves

[Ericaceae] Rhodothamnus chamaecistus – Ground Cistus (Rododendro cistino)

[Ericaceae] Rhododendron ferrugineum – Rusty-Leaved Alpenrose (Rododendro rosso)

[Ericaceae] Rhododendron hirsutum – Hairy Alpenrose (Rododendro peloso)

[Fabaceae] Hedysarum hedysaroides – Alpine Sainfoin (Sulla alpina)

[Gentianaceae] Gentiana acaulis – Trumpet Gentian (Genziana acaule)

[Gentianaceae] Gentiana urticulosa – Bladder Gentian (Genziana alata)

[Lamiaceae] Stachys alopecuros – (Betonica bianca)

[Liliaceae] Lilium martagon – Common Turk's Cap Lily (Giglio a turbante)

[Melanthiaceae] Veratrum lobelianum – (Veratro comune)

[Orchidaceae] Dactylorhiza maculata – Heath Spotted Orchid (Orchide macchiata)

[Orchidaceae] Dactylorhiza traunsteineri – Narrow-leaved marsh orchid or Traunsteiner's dactylorhiza (Orchide di Traunsteiner)

[Plantaginaceae] Veronica sp. possibly alpina – Alpine Speedwell (Veronica delle Alpi)

[Plumbaginaceae] Ameria alpina – Thrift (Spillone alpino)

[Primulaceae] Primula auricula – Bear's Ear (Primula orecchia d'orso)

[Ranuculaceae] Clematis alpina – Alpine Clematis (Clematide alpina)

[Ranuculaceae] Aquilegia atrata - Dark Colombine (Aquilegia scura)
[Rosaceae] Dryas octopetala – White Dryas (Camedrio alpino)

[Rosaceae] Rosa sp. – Rose (Rosa)

[Saxifragaceae] Saxifraga aizoides – Yellow Saxifrage (Sassifraga gialla)

[Thymelaeceae] Daphne striata – Striped Daphne (Dafne striata)

Ütia Forcelles
Photo code: For
Hike Date: 2020-07-16

[Asteraceae] Centaurea uniflora – Plume Knapweed (Fiordaliso alpino con un capolino)

[Asteraceae] Cirsium erisithales – Yellow Thistle (Cardo zampa d'orso)

[Campanulaceae] Campanula cochleariifolia – Earleaf Bellflower (Campanula con foglie di coclearia)

[Campanulaceae] Campanula glomerata – Clustered Bellflower (Campanula agglomerata) - based on flower time

[Caryophyllaceae] Gypsophila repens – Creeping Baby's Breath (Gipsofila striscante)

[Fabaceae] Lupinus polyphyllus – (Lupino a foglioline numerose) - based on flowering time

[Fabiaceae] Trifolium badium – Brown Clover (Trifoglio bruno)
[Liliaceae] Lilium bulbiferum – Orange Lily (Giglio rosso)

[Liliaceae] Lilium martagon – Common Turk's Cap Lily (Giglio a turbante) - white and "regular"

[Orobanchaceae] Orobanche sp. – Broomrape (Succiamele) possibly O. flava or O. rapum-genistae

[Orobanchaceae] Rhinanthus minor – Yellow Rattle (Cresta di gallo minore)

[Plantaginaceae] Linaria alpina – Alpine Toadflax (Linajola alpina)