Plant species of Graubünden (Switzerland)
With a caravan on the "camping
Pradafenz" in Churwalden fitted up as base camp, we found a perfect
location to explore the Graubünden region in Switzerland. We visited
both alpine regions (where there was lots of snow during our visit -
sometimes blocking the road we had planned to follow) and lower
altitudes in the many Swiss valleys. Spectacular tracks took us to
rocky landscapes high above Churwalden. More to the south we
followed the Bernina-track, which lead us close to enormous glaciers
in the surroundings of Morteratsch and the Italian border.
On this page you will find
(click to jump):
Useful identification key
- K. Lauber & G. Wagner: Flora Helvetica
(Bern/Stuttgart/Wien 1998).
Report of this BotanicalJourney
22-6-2009: Surroundings of Churwalden - Lax (Google Map)
The first day of our stay I decided to check out the surroundings
of Churwalden. I followed a footpath to the north, that led
through pine forest mostly. This was a good starter to record the
more or less common plant species like Phyteuma ovatum,
Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Adenostyles alpina, Alchemilla alpina,
Alchemilla glabra, Aquilegia vulgaris, Campanula glomerata,
Carduus defloratus, Epipactis helleborine, Erophila verna,
Pinguicula vulgaris, Geranium sylvaticum, Geum rivale, Trifolium
montanum and Rhinanthus alectorolophus. When it was
time to return I descended the hill through a forest until I
reached the bottom of the valley, where I followed a small river
back to the village of Churwalden. This river led through grassy
fields, mostly very wet, which offered me for example Caltha
palustris, Campanula cochlearifolia, Campanula rotundifolia,
Campanula scheuchzeri, Phyteuma orbiculare, Onobrychis
viciifolia (see photo) and Heracleum mantegazzianum.
Near the camp site the fields were colored pink with Polygonum
bistorta.
24-6-2009: Churwalden - Ap Stätz - Spoina - Parpan - Churwalden
(Google Map)
Right in front of the camp site a Ski lift went up the hill, to
Alp Stätz. Because of maintenance it was out of use, so we decided
to climb the hill ourselves. At first we followed a path through
the forest. Saxifraga rotundifolia was quite abundant on
moist places. In the shade under a shrubbery we found the
spectacular Corallorhiza trifida, which I had never seen
before, so you can imagine how excited I was! Higher up the hill
we crossed several grassy areas with cows and lots of Trollius
europaeus, Veratrum album and Pinguicula alpina. When
we reached the highest parts with trees, we found a grassy field
which was extremely rich in alpine plant species like Bartsia
alpina, Primula farinosa, Androsace chamaejasme, Viola
calcarata, Dryas octopetala, Gentiana utriculosa and Antennaria
carpatica (see photo). Even higher up the hill we found Gentiana
lutea, Aster alpinus, Polygala chamaebuxus and one of my
all-time favorites: Ajuga pyramidalis. When we descended
the hill in the direction of Spoina and Parpan we found Pedicularis
verticillata and Pyrola minor.
25-6-2009: Parpaner Rothorn - Plang bi - Alp Sanaspans - Alp
Scharmoin - Parpan - Churwalden (Google Map)
We used the cable ferry to go all the way up to the top of the
Parpaner Rothorn, 2,861 meters (9,386 ft) above sea level. We
planned to walk to Arosa, but heavy snowfall blocked the path so
we were forced to look for an alternative. We walked to the more
sun-exposed side of the mountain and followed the path down to
Plang bi, Alp Sanaspans, Alp Scharmoin and further down to
Churwalden. The start of the route offered us lots of alpine plant
species, like Geum reptans, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga
exarata (see photo), Ranunculus glacialis, Draba
siliquosa, Draba fladnizensis, Primula integrifolia, Androsace
alpina, Potentilla frigida, Gentiana orbicularis,
Leucanthemopsis alpina, Erigeron uniflorus and Leontodon
montanus.
Walking down the mountain we passed a small lake. Although is was
much lower than the summit of the Parpaner Rothorn, it was still
well above the zone with trees. Many plant species characteristic
to alpine rocky environments were present here, such as Gentiana
acaulis, Gentiana punctata, Soldanella pusilla, Primula
integrifolia, Primula farinosa, Viola calcarata, Plantago
atrata, Homogyne alpina and Ranunculus montanus. Funny
was seeing both the subspecies Pulsatilla alpina subsp. alpina
and Pulsatilla alpina subsp. apiifolia standing in large
numbers next to each other. On a much lower altitude we passed a
small river that came downhill with incredible force. Next to the
river was a grassy field with several wild flowers: Primula
farinosa, Daphne striata, Ranunculus alpestris, Polygala
chamaebuxus, Dryas octopetala, Gentiana orbicularis, Veronica
aphylla, Bartsia alpina (see photo), Anthyllis vulneraria,
Silene acaulis, Anemone narcissiflora, Aster alpinus, Geranium
sylvaticum and Viola biflora.
26-6-2009: Pargitsch - Malixer Alp - Chur (Google Map)
Next to the camp site there was a "rodelbahn" with a cable ferry.
We let the cable ferry bring us all the way up to Pargitsch, but
we did not use the rodelbahn to get us down in a few minutes.
Instead we followed a track to the north, all the way to Malixer
Alp. There we descended towards the city of Chur. Our route took
us through rocky landscape at first, but it soon descended down
into the forests. There we found species like Geum reptans,
Thalictrum aquilegiifolium, Silene acaulis, Carduus defloratus and
Moneses uniflora. Malixer Alp was some sort of touristic
hot spot but fortunately the place was deserted when we were
there. Next to some holiday homes we discovered a grassy field
with truly spectacular plant species! For example: Gentianella
campestris, Gymnadenia conopsea, Listera ovata, Polygonum
bistorta, Carex davalliana, Tofieldia calyculata, Orchis
ustulata (see picture) and Salvia pratensis. In the
pine forest we found Campanula glomerata and Phyteuma
spicatum.
28-6-2009: Murtèl - Chamanna Coaz (Google
Map)
One of the reasons to go to Graubünden was the opportunity to
follow the famous "Bernina-trek". This is a multiple-journey
walking track close to many impressive glaciers. Breathtaking and
overwhelming are two words to describe this experience. The first
part of the track took us from Murtèl to Chamanna Coaz. "Chamanna"
is a word for a mountain lodge with friendly hosts that welcome
you, feed you and provide you with a place to sleep. Payment is
required for this hospitality of course, but it is definitely
worth every penny. High up in the mountains we found Saxifraga
seguieri, Lloydia serotina, Primula latifolia (see photo),
Loiseleuria procumbens, Pulsatilla alpina subsp apiifolia,
Gentiana clusii, Gentiana orbicularis, Nigritella nigra,
Myosotis alpestris, Artemisia umbelliformis, Saponaria
ocymoides, Ranunculus kuepferi, Soldanella alpina, Gagea
fistulosa, Sedum alpestre, Sedum rupestre, Sempervivum
arachnoideum and Sempervivum tectorum.
29-6-2009: Chamanna Coaz - Chamanna da Tschierva (Google
Map)
The second stage of the Bernina trek was from Chamanna Coaz to
Chamanna da Tschierva. The first part of this route was all the
way down the hill towards a lake with very cold (ice) water. We
saw lots of plant species characteristic for alpine rocky
environments, like Soldanella pusilla, Soldanella alpina,
Primula integrifolia, Gentiana acaulis, Gentiana punctata
(see photo), Pulsatilla alpina subsp apiifolia, Sedum
alpestre, Antennaria dioica, Pedicularis recutita, Pedicularis
foliosa, Pedicularis kerneri, Pedicularis tuberosa, Pulmonaria
australis, Senecio doronicum (see photo below), Achillea
erba-rotta subsp moschata, Saxifraga exarata, Saxifraga aspera,
Saxifraga paniculata, Dianthus sylvestris, Pedicularis tuberosa,
Sempervivum tectorum, Pinguicula leptoceras, Parnassia palustris
and Arenaria ciliata.
Right next to the lake we found Cirsium spinosissimum, Linaria
alpina, Primula farinosa and Homogyne alpina. Funny
was the sighting of about 30 butterflies sitting on the dropping
of an animal; apparently there is something to eat there for the
butterflies!
30-6-2009: Chamanna da Tschierva - Chamanna Boval
The third part of the Bernina-trek took us from Chamanna da
Tschierva to Chamanna Boval. The first part of the route, towards
the Rosegg-hotel, was the same as yesterday. Funny how you can see
plant species that you completely missed the day before: Rhamnus
pumilus and Sempervivum montanum. Once we passed
Rosegg, the route became somewhat boring. The forest was crowded
with people and not very interesting for plant species. That is to
say - until we found Linnaea borealis.
We took the liberty to take the train for a part of the route, but
continued walking from railway station Morteratsch. We did not
follow the route that almost every tourist follows, but turned
right as soon as we could, where a narrow track lead us into the
mountains again. In the forests we found Campanula barbata
and somewhat higher up the hill we saw Saxifraga bryoides,
Adenostyles leucophylla, Pulsatilla vernalis (see photo) and
Ajuga pyramidalis. The views on the glaciers were
spectacular again and the track followed morene walls that showed
impressive marks of large-scale erosion.
1-7-2009: Chamanna Boval - Morteratschgletsjer - Station
Morteratsch (Google Map)
The last day of the Bernina-trek we went down into the Morteratsch
valley again and followed the path towards the glacier. Alongside
the path we found Daphne striata, Helianthemum alpestre
(see photo), Arnica montana, Coeloglossum viride, Rhododendron
ferrugineum, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Botrychium
lunaria.
Anyone who thinks climate change is non-existent should go to the
Morteratsch glacier. The large speed with which the ice is melting
makes even the most skeptic person in the world think again on
that issue. The Swiss found subtle ways of passing that message to
the visitors. It makes you kind of sad, thinking what we are doing
to our planet. But when you finally reach the ice of the glacier
there are some orange and yellow Papaver croceum to cheer
you up (see photo).
3-7-2009: Parpaner Rothorn - Arosa (Google Map)
After a day of well-earned rest we decided to try the top of the
Parpaner Rothorn again. Our first attempt to walk from there to
the town of Arosa failed because of the snow, but since then the
temperatures went up and the sun was present almost every day.
Some of the snow had melted away and this enabled us to go to
Arosa after all. Unfortunately the sun finally gave up and heavy
rains poured down on us almost the entire day. Literally thousands
of amphibians enjoyed the rain: with every step we had to take
care not to squash a specimen of Salamandra atra. We also
found Ranunculus glacialis, Viola calcarata (with white
flowers !), Botrychium lunaria (see picture), Saxifraga
aphylla, Asplenium adulterium and Ranunculus
parnassiifolius.
Just before we reached Arosa the sun began to shine again. There
was a wooden shed at a location where many small rivers came
together. Some very nice plant species could be found here, such
as Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga stellaris, Androsace
chamaejasme, Pedicularis verticillata, Salix reticulata,
Biscutella laevigata, Stemmocantha rhapontica, Campanula barbata
and Pseudorchis albida (see picture right below). We
continued the track all the way to Arosa, where we took the
UNESCO-train to Chur. There, heavy rains started to come down
again, with lightning and thunder.
4-7-2009: Alp Stätz - Stätzer horn - Fulhorn - Pargitsch (Google Map)
Our last trip in Graubünden did not lead us to may new species,
but the landscape was truly spectacular again! From Alp Stätz we
took the track all the way up to the Stätzer horn and from there
we followed the summits of the mountains to the Fulhorn. We
returned via Pargitsch. In the mountains we saw Androsace
helvetica (see picture), Androsace obtusifolia,
Diphasiastrum alpinum, Hedysarum hedysaroides, Erigeron
uniflorus, Eriophorum scheuchzeri, Gentiana cruciata, Salix
reticulata, Eriophorum scheuchzeri, Saponaria ocymoides,
Petasites paradoxus and Polygala alpestris.
In total, we recorded 356 wild plant species in Graubünden. You
can find a comprehensive list of all our recordings below.
List of the recorded plant species
PLEASE NOTE:
Only the first finding of
species is displayed. So species that were both recorded on the 29th
and the 30th of June ONLY are noted on the 29th.
22-6-2009: Surroundings of Churwalden - Lax (Google Map)
Acer campestre
Achillea millefolium
Aconitum lycoctonum
Adenostyles alpina = A. glabra
Aegopodium podagraria
Agrostis capillaris
Ajuga reptans
Alchemilla alpina
Alchemilla glabra
Alliaria petiolata
Alnus glutinosa
Anthriscus sylvestris
Aquilegia vulgaris
Bellis perennis
Betula pendula
Caltha palustris
Campanula cochlearifolia
Campanula glomerata
Campanula rotundifolia
Campanula scheuchzeri
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Carduus defloratus
Carduus nutans subsp. platylepis
Carex flacca
Carex sylvatica
Carpinus betulus
Centaurea jacea
Centaurea scabiosa
Chelidonium majus
Cirsium oleraceum
Cirsium palustre
Dactylis glomerata
Dactylorhiza fuchsii
Daucus carota
Epilobium hirsutum
Epilobium parviflorum
Epipactis helleborine
Equisetum palustre
Equisetum telmateia
Erophila verna
Euphrasia minima
Festuca rubra
Fragaria vesca
Galeopsis tetrahit
Galium glaucum
Galium mollugo
Galium verum
Geranium robertianum
Geranium sylvaticum
Geum rivale
Heracleum mantegazzianum
Heracleum sphondylium
Hieracium aurantiacum
Hieracium piliferum
Hieracium pilosella
Homogyne alpina
Impatiens parviflora
Knautia arvensis
Lactuca serriola
Lamiastrum galeobdolon
Lamium album
Leucanthemum vulgare
Listera ovata
Lolium perenne
Lonicera periclymenum
Lotus corniculatus
Lupinus angustifolius
Luzula lutea
Luzula sylvatica
Lychnis flos-cuculi
Lysimachia nemorum
Matricaria discoidea
Meconopsis cambrica
Medicago lupulina
Melampyrum sylvaticum
Melilotus altissima
Mentha longifolia
Moehringia trinervia
Myosotis scorpioides
Myosotis sylvatica
Onobrychis viciifolia
Oxalis acetosella
Phleum alpinum
Phyteuma orbiculare
Pinus mugo
Pinus nigra
Pinus sylvestris
Pimpinella major
Pinguicula vulgaris
Plantago lanceolata
Plantago major
Plantago media
Platanthera bifolia
Poa annua
Poa pratensis
Polygonum bistorta
Polygonum viviparum
Potentilla anserina
Potentilla erecta
Prunella vulgaris
Pteridium aquilinum
Quercus robur
Ranunculus acris
Ranunculus repens
Rhinanthus alectorolophus
Rhynchospora alba
Rubus spec
Rumex acetosa
Rumex obtusifolius
Salvia officinalis
Sanguisorba minor
Sanguisorba officinalis
Saxifraga cotyledon
Silene dioica
Silene vulgaris
Sonchus asper
Sorbus aucuparia
Stachys sylvatica
Stellaria media
Taraxacum spec.
Thalictrum aquilegiifolium
Thymus praecox subsp. Praecox = T. serphyllum
Tofieldia calyculata
Trifolium badium
Trifolium montanum
Trifolium pratense
Trifolium repens
Tussilago farfara
Urtica dioica
Vaccinium myrtillus
Veronica urticifolia
Vicia cracca
Vicia sativa subsp. sativa
Vinca major
Viola tricolor
24-6-2009: Churwalden - Ap Stätz - Spoina - Parpan - Churwalden
(Google Map)
Acinos alpinus
Ajuga pyramidalis
Antennaria carpatica
Anthyllis vulneraria
Asplenium viride
Aster alpinus
Aster bellidiastrum
Astragalus alpinus
Bartsia alpina
Blechnum spicant
Calluna vulgaris
Carex digitata
Cicerbita alpina
Cirsium spinosissimum
Coeloglossum viride
Corallorhiza trifida
Dactylorhiza maculata
Dryas octopetala
Equisetum hyemale
Gentiana acaulis
Gentiana asclepiadea
Gentiana lutea
Gentiana punctata
Gentiana utriculosa
Gymnocarpium dryopteris
Helianthemum nummularium
Hepatica nobilis
Hippocrepis comosa
Huperzia selago
Juniperus communis
Melampyrum pratense
Myosotis alpestris
Neottia nidus-avis
Paris quadrifolia
Pedicularis recutita
Pedicularis verticillata
Petasites hybridus subsp. hybridus
Picea abies
Pinguicula alpina
Plantago alpina
Polygala chamaebuxus
Polygonum persicaria
Polystichum lonchitis
Primula elatior
Primula farinosa
Pritzelago alpina
Pseudorchis albida
Pyrola minor
Ranunculus aconitifolius
Ranunculus lanuginosus
Ranunculus montanus
Reynoutria japonica
Rhododendron ferrugineum
Sanicula europaea
Saxifraga paniculata
Saxifraga rotundifolia
Sempervivum montanum
Senecio alpinus
Silene acaulis
Sonchus oleraceus
Stellaria graminea
Stellaria holostea
Trifolium alpinum
Trollius europaeus
Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Valeriana montana
Valeriana officinalis
Valeriana tripteris
Veratrum album
Viola biflora
Viola calcarata
25-6-2009: Parpaner Rothorn - Plang bi - Alp Sanaspans - Alp
Scharmoin - Parpan - Churwalden (Google Map)
Aconitum napellus
Adenostyles alliariae
Androsace alpina
Androsace chamaejasme
Anemone narcissiflora
Aquilegia atrata
Arnica montana
Carlina acaulis
Daphne striata
Draba fladnizensis
Draba siliquosa
Erica herbacea
Erigeron glabratus
Galium odoratum
Galium rotundifolium
Gentiana orbicularis
Geum reptans
Globularia nudicaulis
Gypsophila repens
Hypericum androsaemum
Leontodon montanus
Leucanthemopsis alpina
Linaria alpina
Maianthemum bifolium
Pedicularis tuberosa
Petasites albus
Petasites paradoxus
Plantago atrata
Polygala vulgaris
Polygonatum odoratum
Polypodium vulgare
Potentilla frigida
Primula integrifolia
Pulsatilla alpina subsp. alpina
Pulsatilla alpina subsp. apiifolia
Pulsatilla montana
Pulsatilla vernalis
Pyrola rotundifolia
Ranunculus alpestris
Ranunculus glacialis
Ranunculus keupferi
Rhododendron hirsutum
Rosa pendulina
Rumex alpinus
Saxifraga bryoides
Saxifraga exarata
Saxifraga oppositifolia
Soldanella pusilla
Stellaria nemorum
Tragopogon pratensis
Trifolium thalii
Veronica aphylla
Viola riviniana
26-6-2009: Pargitsch - Malixer Alp - Chur (Google Map)
Antennaria dioica
Aruncus dioicus
Campanula barbata
Carex davalliana
Echium vulgare
Erigeron alpinus
Eriophorum angustifolium
Euphorbia cyparissias
Gentiana nivalis
Gentianella campestris
Gymnadenia conopsea
Hieracium intybaceum
Hypericum maculatum subsp. obtusiusculum
Hypochoeris uniflora
Moneses uniflora
Orchis ustulata
Phyteuma spicatum
Pinguicula leptoceras
Ranunculus platanifolius
Salvia pratensis
Silene exscapa
Soldanella alpina
28-6-2009: From behind the window of the "Postbus" Churwalden
-> Silvaplana
Centaurea cyanus
Dianthus sylvestris
Filipendula ulmaria
Lilium martagon
28-6-2009: Murtèl - Chamanna Coaz (Google
Map)
Adenostyles leucophylla
Artemisia umbelliformis
Gagea fistulosa
Gentiana clusii
Lloydia serotina
Loiseleuria procumbens
Nigritella nigra
Primula latifolia
Saponaria ocymoides
Saxifraga seguieri
Sedum alpestre
Sedum rupestre
Sempervivum arachnoideum
Sempervivum tectorum
29-6-2009: Chamanna Coaz - Chamanna da Tschierva (Google
Map)
Achillea erba-rotta subsp. moschata
Arenaria ciliata
Botrychium lunaria
Cerastium uniflorum
Doronicum grandiflorum
Eriophorum vaginatum
Helianthemum alpestre
Parnassia palustris
Pedicularis foliosa
Pedicularis kerneri
Potentilla aurea
Pulmonaria australis
Rhamnus pumilus
Saxifraga aspera
Saxifraga stellaris
Senecio doronicum
Vicia sylvatica
30-6-2009: Chamanna da Tschierva - Chamanna Boval
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Asplenium adiantum-nigrum
Fumaria officinalis
Linnaea borealis
Minuartia sedoides
Oxytropis campestris
Poa alpina
Viola arvensis
1-7-2009: Chamanna Boval - Morteratschgletsjer - Station
Morteratsch (Google Map)
Campanula trachelium
Cephalanthera rubra
Digitalis grandiflora
Lilium bulbiferum
Veronica teucrium
1-7-2009: Morteratsch - Churwalden
Epilobium fleischeri
Euphorbia lathyris
Larix decidua
Papaver croceum
Peucedanum ostruthium
Primula hirsuta
Salix glaucosericea
Veronica alpina
Veronica bellidioides
Veronica fruticans
3-7-2009: Parpaner Rothorn - Arosa (Google Map)
Asplenium adulterinum
Biscutella laevigata
Cirsium acaule
Erigeron annuus
Hedysarum hedysaroides
Phyteuma ovatum
Ranunculus parnassiifolius
Salix reticulata
Saxifraga aizoides
Saxifraga aphylla
Sedum dasyphyllum
Stemmocantha rhapontica
4-7-2009: Alp Stätz - Stätzer horn - Fulhorn - Pargitsch (Google Map)
Androsace helvetica
Androsace obtusifolia
Diphasiastrum alpinum
Erigeron uniflorus
Eriophorum scheuchzeri
Gentiana cruciata
Polygala alpestris