The French Alps

Plant recordings in July 2023

by Rutger Barendse and Jeroen Willemsen 

The alpine flowers of the French Alps


After a very hot BotanicalJourney in the French Ardèche in 2022, we opted for a cooler destination and set our sights on the mountains. Choosing the Mont Blanc area in the French Alps, we hoped for more moderate temperatures. We found an apartment near the town of Beaufort, situated at an altitude of approximately 750 meters above sea level. The apartment was a bit shoddy, Wifi was more absent than present and there was an unwelcome swarm of flies in the bathroom, but it was OK for a short period of time, I guess.

The so-called Beaufortain region in the Savoie proved to be delightful, boasting high mountains and deep valleys. The local villages were charming, though their tranquility probably very much depends on the tourist season. Beaufort, in particular, is renowned for its cheese, available in numerous local shops at an exorbitant price of 30 euros per kilo. We decided to opt for Coulommiers from the nearby Intermarché instead, where they offered delicious apricot jelly as well.

From our apartment in Beaufort, we embarked on several car journeys to explore various destinations. Below, we will chronologically detail our plant discoveries at these locations. At the end of this page, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of all the plant species we recorded in the French Alps.


On this page you will find (click to jump):

Useful identification keys


Report of this BotanicalJourney


1 July 2023: The surroundings of Beaufort  (Google map)

We arrived in Beaufort amidst drizzly rain. Despite the weather, we decided to begin our plant recordings right after enjoying one of Rutgers' famous pasta meals. We continued until dark, starting near our accommodation just outside the village. Initially, we recorded numerous common species, as expected. However, the grassy fields held some pleasant surprises, such as Blitum bonus-henricus and Knautia dipsacifolius.

Following a small unpaved path through the rubbish of the municipality of Beaufortain, we ventured towards a river that led to a stream with the bluest water imaginable. Both the path and the stream's shores were completely covered in Fallopia x bohemica, with plants towering up to 10 meters high. Luckily, this invasive species had not spread to the forested area a little further away (not yet, anyway). In the Fallopia-free zone, we recorded species like Aconitum lycoctonum subsp. vulparia, Campanula trachelium, Phyteuma spicatum and Lonicera alpigena.

Fragaria vescaAfter crossing the stream on a narrow iron bridge, we reached the south side of the stream, where the steep slopes of the valley were rocky and covered with wood. This area revealed some very nice species like Melampyrum sylvaticum, Clinopodium grandiflorum and Luzula nivea. Fragaria vesca already had nice red strawberries (see picture). To our surprise, we also found Chrysosplenium alternifolium, which we had previously known from completely different habitats. Nice ferns on this site were Phegopteris connectilis and Gymnocarpium robertianum. The rocky wall held species like Moehringia muscosa, Cardamine pentaphyllos, Hypericum montanum and Saxifraga cuneifolia.

Whe we finally reached the town of Beaufort, daylight was fading, making plant identification a bit difficult. We noted some garden escapees, and as we headed back to our accommodation outside the town, we also spotted Asplenium septentrionale on a rock wall. A fruitful start to our 2023 Botanical Journey, as we recorded a total of 240 different plant species in a single evening!


2 July 2023: The Roselend  (Google map)

Luzula nivea The next day, we set our sights on exploring a more subalpine zone. Our destination was the 'Cormet de Roselend,' a mountain pass at an elevation of 1967 meters. After we followed a winding road, we reached the artificial but beautiful Lac de Roselend. Pausing to take in the breathtaking views of the lake, we noticed Gymnadenia conopsea alongside the road. The steep hill slopes were adorned with a yellow carpet of Rhinanthus alectorolophus. On the roadside verge, we recorded Euphrasia salisburgensis and Acinos alpinus, along with Orobanche alba. On top of a stone wall we found Scabiosa lucida, Campanula cochleariifolia and Campanula barbata. Other exciting discoveries included Orthilia secunda, Luzula nivea (see picture), Trifolium aureum and Epipactis atrorubens. Similar to the rocky slopes near Beaufort Asplenium septentrionale made an appearance. As the road grew busier with tourists heading to the Roselend (mostly cyclists, motorists, and middle-aged male sports car enthusiasts) we decided to venture further up the road.

Saxifraga paniculata Our next stop was at the 'Refuge du Plan de la Lai,' chosen for its various walking paths alongside small streams from the hills. From the refuge, we walked south, zigzagging over the hills. Right away, we spotted Botrychium lunaria on a large boulder. The most abundant Saxifrage on these boulders was Saxifraga paniculata (see picture), but we recorded Saxifraga exarata on several locations as well. In the rock crevices we found several ferns, like Polystichum lonchitis and Dryopteris carthusiana. Our path led us through a grassy area, where Veratrum album was abundant, along with Dactylorhiza majalis. Interestingly, we even saw a woman encouraging her (grand)son to make a flower bouquet with orchids! Less suitable for flower bouquets were the smaller species like the purple Pedicularis verticillata and the yellow Pedicularis comosa. Near a small stream, we recorded Pinguicula vulgaris and Tofieldia calyculata. Gentiana bavarica already had flowers, but sadly the flowers of Gentiana acaulis had already passed.

Centaurea nervosa In this area, we encountered a puzzling Centaurea species, which prompted us to consult the Flora Alpina to identify it correctly. The fantastic Mittelmeer- und Alpenflora was useful too. First, we noticed plants with a striking reticulated structure on the flower heads, but the held no flowers anymore. Assuming these were Centaurea uniflora, due to their smooth-edged leaves, we were surprised to find other plants with the same reticulated structure, but with serrated leaves (and with flowers). These turned out to be Centaurea nervosa (see picture).

Pseudorchis albida Checking Open Street Maps, we identified a boggy area to the south and decided to explore it. In the grassy fields, we discovered orchids such as Traunsteinera globosa and Coeloglossum viride. Although initially puzzled by the absence of Pseudorchis albida, we eventually found many specimens of this delicate orchid (see picture). The boggy area revealed Trollius europaeus, Juncus filiformis and Trichophorum cespitosum. After spotting numerous unidentifiable Crocus leaves, we returned to our car and continued along the road towards the Roselend pass.

Gentiana acaulis Upon reaching the pass, we found it a little bit too busy, so we drove a little bit further down the road and stopped near a gorge called ‘Combe de la Neuva’. Following a track alongside a vigorously flowing mountain stream, we encountered species similar to those recorded at the Refuge du Plan de la Lai, but with some additional novelties. Higher up in the mountains, where the snow had only recently melted, we discovered Gentiana acaulis (this time with flowers; see picture) and numerous specimens of Primula farinosa. One Pulsatilla alpina had a flower as well; but the most plants only had their funny-looking wigs on the former flower heads.

The correct scientific name of Nigritella cenisia/rhellicani proved challenging due to conflicting information from various floras and websites. According to the World flora Online, they are all called Gymnadenia rhellicani. However, we found some specimens that were brightly red rather than black, making the species identification even more intriguing. The correct species name still remains somewhat of a mystery to us. Alongside the stream, we recorded Pinguicula alpina, Parnassia palustris and Primula hirsuta. On a slope, there was a small forest with Calluna vulgaris and Gentiana asclepiadea on the edges.


3 July 2023: Bois de la Thuliettaz (near Hauteluce)  (Google map)

The following day, we set out to explore the plant life of the 'Bois de la Thuliettaz' near the town of Hauteluce. We had noticed a long and somewhat obscure road on the map, that according to Google should lead to a parking area. Finding the road to this location proved to be a challenge, and about halfway the tarmac ended abruptly, The large stones in the road made it impossible to proceed by car. But we still had a long way to go!

Campanula barbataFortunately a steep path went more or less straight up the hill, leading us through a dense forest while bypassing the numerous curves of the main road. Along this path, we encountered several plant species we had already seen in previous days, but also made new discoveries such as Spinulum annotinum and Pyrola minor. There were some very nice specimens of the beautiful fern Oreopteris limbosperma as well, on which we could clearly observe the characteristic spore patterns on the underside of the leaves. The forest was abundant with Melampyrum pratense and Pseudorchis albida, which seemed to thrive in various habitats. On more open and rocky places we recorded Campanula barbata (see picture).

Eventually, we arrived at a more open area near the foot of an impressive mountain range called 'Montagne d'Outray.' Here, we recorded Cirsium eriophorum and Spergularia rubra. Following a footpath that was not marked on our topographic map, but existed according to Google Maps, we entered a peculiar environment with semi-open areas and recently cut-down trees. Among our findings here were Gentiana angustifolia, lots of Rhododendron ferrugineum and Thalictrum aquilegiifolium.

Gentiana punctataAn exceptional discovery was Euprasia minima, which we initially didn't recognize. Despite the millions of Veratrum album present, we managed to spot some specimens of Gentiana punctata with nice flowers (see picture). On our way back to the car, we retraced the steep track through the woods. Only this time we descended, making it much easier than our initial ascent.

Digitalis grandiflora On the way back down we stopped alongside the D70 south of Grumelins, where we had noticed Digitalis grandiflora (see picture) and Digitalis lutea. Additionally, we recorded Hesperis matronalis, Veronica montana and Circaea alpina here. Once again, we encountered many delightful ferns, including Cystopteris fragilis, Gymnocarpium robertianum and Asplenium adiantum-nigrum.

3 July 2023: Les Pacats (1021m)  (Google map)

As the day was drawing to a close, we needed to make a quick stop at the Intermarché. However, before heading there, we decided to explore 'Les Roches Saint-Joseph' north of Villard-sur-Doron. Unfortunately, we encountered many private roads with warning signs, prohibiting us from entering.

Asplenium septentrionaleUndeterred, we found an alternative path through a forest behind an abandoned building near ‘Les Pacats’. This forest had a pleasant, humid atmosphere, with rock walls moistened by dripping water. The area was a treasure trove of ferns, and we happily recorded species like Asplenium adiantum-nigrum, Asplenium septentrionale (see picture) and Asplenium trichomanes (by now you know we like ferns!). Additionally, we came across Hieracium umbellatum, Senecio sylvaticus and Coronilla emerus.


4 July 2023: From La Ville des Glaciers to Col de la Seigne (Mont Blanc)  (Google map)

Pedicularis gyroflexa Near the famous Mont Blanc mountain range lies the tourist village of 'La Ville des Glaciers.' Numerous paths lead into the mountains from there, taking hikers to passes and mountain summits. To begin our walk, we took a bus, which saved us from a nearly 5 km uphill walk. Our actual hike commenced at an altitude of around 1800 meters. Following a path towards 'Col de l'Ouillon,' we encountered various species of alpine grasslands, like Phyteuma orbiculare, Onobrychis montana, Coeloglossum viride and Pedicularis gyroflexa (see picture). Geranium macrorrhizum and Valeriana wallrothii were also present.

Near a river the path had disappeared due to a land slide, making it impossible for us to cross the wild river. Nevertheless, we made some notable discoveries here, such as Neotinea ustulata, Antennaria carpatica and Potentilla grandiflora. These plant species surely made the steep trek worthwhile. An unexpected find was Orchis militaris, of which we found only one specimen, growing on bare rocks with loose gravel. That is not typical of the habitats we know for this species.

Linaria alpina Returning to the main valley, we continued on a path in the direction of 'Col de la Seigne.' This route led us through an array of nice flowers, including Linaria alpina (see picture), Gypsohylla repens, Anemone narcissiflora and Saxifraga stellaris. We continued along the path until we reached an area where the snow had recently melted. There we recorded Soldanella alpina and Ranunculus alpestris. For us, this was a sign to begin our journey back to the car.

Lilium martagon We decided not to take the bus on our return, but to walk the entire way back to La Ville des Glaciers. It turned out to be a great choice! The road ran alongside a steep rocky slope, where we discovered many new species. The flowers of Lilium martagon (see picture) were spread through the area. On the rocks, we recorded Hieracium peleterianum, Cryptogramma crispa, Sempervivum arachnoideum and Minuartia laricifolia. We were intrigued by the large flowers of Hypericum richeri, a new species for us, and we also spotted Gymnadenia densiflora and Gentiana lutea in the area. By the time we returned to our car, it was rather late in the afternoon. We just made it in time to the Intermarché to buy a pizza; they were about to close and the lights were already turned off while we were filling up our shopping cart!


5 July 2023: Around the Lac de Saint Guérin (1570-1898m) (Google Map)

South of the village called Arêches, there lies an artificial lake with a hydro-electric dam. Intrigued by the idea of walking around the lake, we approached the path, only to be disappointed by a large sign warning us for falling rocks and prohibiting access. As we were about to turn back, a group of fearless Frenchmen and women arrived on the scene, paying no attention to the sign whatsoever. They boldly passed the barrier that said “acces interdit” and entered the forbidden area. Taking inspiration from the saying “when in Rome...” we decided to do like the Frenchmen did. And it turned out to be a wise choice!

Thesium pyrenaicumInside the prohibited area, we immediately passed a wet rock with numerous Primula hirsuta, Asplenium septentrionale, Cryptogramma crispa and Aconitum vulparia. Further along, we followed a path leading towards the 'Forêt de Marthonais' and soon encountered a boggy area teeming with Pinguicula vulgaris, Viola palustris and Thesium pyrenaicum (see picture). As we ascended up the steep hill into the forest, it became evident that we might not encounter many extra new species, prompting us to retrace our steps back to the lake and continue our walk around its perimeter. The eastern shore of the lake was not forbidden to enter, but the plant life was less remarkable compared to the western shore.

Our journey then led us up a road with rough tarmac towards the 'Lac des Fées' (1998m). Arriving at the lake, we found it crowded with tourists chatting and relaxing, so the whole scenery was a bit of a disappointment for us. The only new plant we recorded in the area was Juncus alpinoarticulatus.

Trifolium alpinumOn our way back to Arêches, we made a stop at an open area resulting from forestry activities. Following a muddy path, we reached a deep and narrow ravine with a stream flowing at its bottom. Here, we recorded Trifolium alpinum (see picture), Campanula rhomboidalis, Pilosella piloselloides and Pimpinella major var. rubra. We used a very moist grassland to climb back up to the road.


5 July 2023: Around the river Isère in Albertville  (Google Map)

Euphorbia maculata As the day was coming to a close, we decided to explore the gravel banks of the river Isère in Albertville. However, this turned out to be a disappointing choice, as the banks were difficult to access and lacked interesting vegetation. Instead, the shores of the river were dominated by the invasive plant Fallopia x bohemica. So instead, we decided to take a stroll around Albertville itself. Despite the initial setback, we managed to record some nice plant species higher up on the banks of the river, including Setaria viridis, Helianthus tuberosus, Crepis foetida and Medicago falcata. Funny was the finding of Euphorbia maculata, a tiny plant with even tinier flowers (see picture), growing amidst the gravel in a park in Albertville.

We also discovered an abandoned piece of land, situated along the Avenue des Chasseurs Alpins in Albertville. Several piles of rubbish were dumped here, but just as we expected, this neglected spot yielded some valuable additions to our list of plant species. They included Verbena bonariensis, Verbascum thapsus and Scrophularia canina. So in the end, Albertville provided us with valuable botanical discoveries, making the day's adventure worthwhile after all.


6 July 2023: Moûtiers  (Google map)

Although our apartment had shitty internet that only worked when we stood in a corner of a dark room in the back of the building, we managed to use Google Street View to identify promising locations for new plant species. We noticed an area rich in chalk around the river Isère. Near the Casino supermarket in the town of Moûtiers, we spotted a hill slope with rough vegetation, hat seemed promising. Determined to explore this area, we drove to Moûtiers.

However, when we arrived at the hill behind the local fire station, it proved to be inaccessible due to large nets stretched over the slope to prevent falling boulders from causing damage. Our plan to climb up the hill was thwarted by these nets. Undeterred, we tried a small path near some sort of water tower, but it didn't yield any results. The funny thing however, was that we could still observe many fascinating chalky plants, even from the bottom of the slope.

Ajuga chamaepitysSo we pressed on, navigating through ugly flats, unpleasant camper sites, and noisy construction sites. Among our discoveries were Ajuga chamaepitys (see picture), Sempervivum tinctorum, Isatis tinctoria, Petrorhagia saxifraga and Teucrium chamaedrys. We were thrilled to finally come across Asplenium ceterach, a fern we had been hoping to find earlier in our BotanicalJourney. A totally new plant for us, that took us some time to identify properly afterwards, was Alyssoides utriculata, a member of the Brassicaceae family with conspicuous ball-like fruits. This discovery posed a challenge, and it took some time and effort to properly identify this plant, for which we needed to use all available resources.


6 July 2023: Le Nant Agot  (Google map)

Cephalanthera rubra Around lunchtime, we made the decision to venture deeper into the valley of the river Isère. We spotted a winding road north of Centron, leading to a path into the forest towards a mountain stream called 'Le Nant Agot.' Rutger believed the path would be relatively flat, but Jeroen disagreed on that point. As we entered the impressive forest, we were greeted by a diverse array of tree species and plants. Right from the start, we came across Erigeron gaudinii. In the forest Melampyrum neomorosum was abundant, and we were delighted to encounter many orchids, including Goodyera repens (a novelty for BotanicalJourneys!), Neottia ovata, Neottia nidus-avis, Epipactis helleborine, Limodorum abortivum (without flowers, unfortunately), Cypripedium calceolus (also without flowers) and Cephalanthera rubra (with many flowers; see picture).

Monotropa hypopitys subsp hypophegea As we explored more open areas and continued to walk through the forest, we recorded species such as Andryala integrifolia, Chamaenerion dodonaei, Thalictrum aquilegiifolium and Teucrium montanum. We followed the course of the Nant Agot for a while, but the dense forest and large boulders we had to climb over, made it increasingly challenging. Along the stream, we discovered some specimens of Aquilegia atrata and Orthilia secunda. Eventually, the Nant Agot passed an impressive landslide, creating a moon-like landscape with loose rock chippings and massive boulders. At this point, we decided it was time to turn back and return to our car. Even on the way back through the beautiful and well-developed forest, we continued to find new species, including the ugly Monotropa hipopitys ssp hypophega (see picture).


7 July 2023: Lac de l’Arpettaz (1950m) – Le grand Plan (2104m) – Lac du Branlay (2027m)  (Google map)

Polygala chamaebuxus Encouraged by our recordings of the day before, we decided to go to the region of Moûtiers again on the last day of our BotanicalJourney. We headed for the ‘Col de la Madeleine’, but instead of going to the col, we took a turn to the right and made our way up to 'Le Logis des Fées' at an altitude of 1839 meters above sea level. When the tarmac ended, we continued following the road on foot, reaching an altitude of 1950 meters at the 'Lac de l'Arpettaz.' The plants were large and by a repetition of the previous week, but to our surprise we found Paradisea liliastrum for the first time this Journey. It grew in an environment dominated by Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Juniperus. Another new plant discovery was Polygala chamaebuxus (see picture). Other nice plant species were Silene nutans, Pulsatilla alpina and Antennaria carpatica. The delicate Pseudorchis albida was spread –again– throughout the area.

Gentiana clusii When we reached the Lac de l'Arpettaz, we spotted a swimming snake and observed a dozen swifts flying close to the water surface, catching insects and drinking water. Our presence didn't seem to bother them, and the sound of their wings was quite impressive as they flew close by. The water was home to several amphibians. Near the lake we recorded Gentiana acaulis and Gentiana clusii, the former with green dots in the flower, the latter without green dots (see picture). Spectacular was the finding of Primula hirsuta, this time with its flowers still intact. As we expected, we discovered Soldanella alpina in an area with recently melted snow. Two familiar orchids also made an appearance: Traunsteinera globosa and Nigritella rhellicani.

Sedum alpestre Continuing along a path further up into the mountains, we passed through 'Le Grand Plan' at an altitude of 2104 meters above sea level, heading towards another lake called 'Lac du Branlay.' The entire area was quite wet, and the plant life was incredibly rich. We crossed many small streams and recorded species such as Sedum alpestre (see picture), Ranunculus aconitifolius, Pinguicla leptoceras and Saxifraga aspera. Surprisingly, this area seemed relatively unknown to other tourists. It was very quiet and the panoramas over the high mountain ranges made it a spectacular place to be.

After a long and satisfying walk, we returned to our car and had to follow the long and narrow road back down the hill. We encountered a friendly lady in a car coming from the opposite direction, but due to the narrow road, it was impossible to pass each other. The friendly lady in the other car was panicking a bit and put her car in reverse. Only she could not drive backwards very well and immediately ended up with two wheels next to the asphalt, right above a steep descent. Jeroen kindly offered to drive her car and safely parked it on a passing place. The woman was grateful and we could continue our route.

Campanula rhomboidalisWe then drove to the ‘Col de la Madelaine’, 2000m above sea level and once part of a Tour de France stage. There we enjoyed the panoramic views and recorded Centaurea montana and Barbarea verna. Additionally, we found some white specimens of Campanula rhomboidalis (see picture), which we will also post on our page “Plants that are not white”.

This marked the end of our 2023 Botanical Journey, which had been a satisfying trip filled with beautiful walks, stunning views, and the discovery of 818 different plant species. Below is our comprehensive list of recorded species:



List of the recorded plant species

PLEASE NOTE:
Only the first finding of species is mentioned. This means that species recorded on multiple dates, such as both on the 6th and the 7th of July, are only noted on the 6th.

 

1 July 2023: The surroundings of Beaufort  (Google map)

Abies alba
Acer campestre
Acer platanoides
Acer pseudoplatanus
Achillea millefolium
Aegopodium podagraria
Aethusa cynapium
Agrostis capillaris
Agrostis gigantea
Alchemilla xanthochlora
Alliaria petiolata
Alnus incana
Angelica sylvestris
Anthoxanthum odoratum
Anthriscus sylvestris
Arctium lappa
Arenaria serpyllifolia
Arrhenatherum elatius
Artemisia vulgaris
Aruncus dioicus
Asarum europaeum
Asplenium septentrionale
Asplenium trichomanes
Athyrium filix-femina
Atriplex patula
Avena fatua
Avenella flexuosa
Barbarea vulgaris
Betula pendula
Brachypodium pinnatum
Brachypodium sylvaticum
Bromopsis erecta
Bromus hordeaceus
Calamagrostis villosa
Campanula rotundifolia
Campanula trachelium
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Cardamine pentaphyllos
Carex digitata
Carex divulsa + Carex leersii
Carex leporina
Carex spicata
Carex sylvatica
Carpinus betulus
Centaurea jacea
Centaurea scabiosa
Cerastium fontanum
Cerastium tomentosum
Chaenorhinum minus
Chaerophyllum hirsutum
Chamaenerion angustifolium
Chelidonium majus
Chrysosplenium alternifolium
Circaea lutetiana
Cirsium arvense
Cirsium palustre
Cirsium vulgare
Clinopodium grandiflorum
Convolvulus arvensis
Convolvulus sepium
Corylus avellana
Crepis biennis
Crepis capillaris
Cymbalaria muralis
Cynosurus cristatus
Dactylis glomerata
Daucus carota
Deschampsia cespitosa
Dryopteris affinis
Dryopteris filix-mas
Echinochloa crus-galli
Elymus repens
Epilobium hirsutum
Epilobium montanum
Epilobium roseum
Epilobium tetragonum
Equisetum arvense
Eragrostis minor
Erigeron annuus
Erigeron canadensis
Euphorbia peplus
Fallopia dumetorum
Fallopia sachalinensis
Fallopia x bohemica (F. japonica x F. sachalinensis)
Festuca brevipila
Filipendula ulmaria
Fragaria vesca
Fraxinus excelsior
Galinsoga quadriradiata
Galium aparine
Galium mollugo
Galium odoratum
Geranium columbinum
Geranium molle
Geranium pyrenaicum
Geranium robertianum
Geranium sylvaticum
Geum urbanum
Glechoma hederacea
Hedera helix
Heracleum sphondylium
Hieracium maculatum
Hieracium murorum
Holcus lanatus
Holcus mollis
Humulus lupulus
Hypericum hirsutum
Hypericum montanum
Hypericum perforatum
Hypochaeris radicata
Ilex aquifolium
Impatiens glandulifera
Impatiens noli-tangere
Juglans regia
Juncus bufonius
Juncus compressus
Juncus tenuis
Knautia arvensis
Knautia dipsacifolia
Lactuca serriola
Lamiastrum galeobdolon
Lamium maculatum
Lapsana communis
Lathyrus pratensis
Lavandula angustifolia
Leontodon hispidus
Leucanthemum vulgare
Lolium perenne
Lonicera alpigena
Lotus pedunculatus
Luzula nivea
Luzula sylvatica
Lysimachia nummularia
Lysimachia vulgaris
Malva moschata
Malva sylvestris
Matricaria discoidea
Medicago lupulina
Medicago sativa
Melampyrum sylvaticum
Melica nutans
Melilotus albus
Mentha longifolia
Mercurialis perennis
Moehringia muscosa
Moehringia trinervia
Mycelis muralis
Neottia nidus-avis
Oenothera biennis
Oxalis acetosella
Pastinaca sativa
Persicaria hydropiper
Petasites hybridus
Phegopteris connectilis
Phleum pratense
Phragmites australis
Phyteuma nigrum
Phyteuma spicatum
Picea abies
Pimpinella saxifraga
Plantago lanceolata
Plantago major
Plantago media
Poa annua
Poa chaixii
Poa nemoralis
Poa pratensis
Poa trivialis
Polygonatum multiflorum
Polygonatum verticillatum
Polygonum aviculare
Polystichum setiferum
Populus tremula
Potentilla argentea
Potentilla reptans
Poterium sanguisorba
Prenanthes purpurea
Prunella vulgaris
Quercus petraea
Ranunculus acris
Ranunculus repens
Reseda lutea
Rorippa palustris
Rubus idaeus
Rubus Sec. Rubus
Rubus ulmifolius
Rumex acetosa
Rumex crispus
Rumex obtusifolius
Sagina procumbens
Salix alba
Salix caprea
Salix viminalis
Salvia glutinosa
Salvia pratensis
Sambucus nigra
Sambucus racemosa
Saponaria ocymoides
Saxifraga cuneifolia
Schedonorus arundinaceus
Schedonorus giganteus
Schedonorus pratensis
Scorzoneroides autumnalis
Scrophularia nodosa
Sedum album
Sedum telephium
Senecio vulgaris
Silene dioica
Silene vulgaris
Solidago gigantea
Sonchus asper
Sonchus oleraceus
Sorbus aucuparia
Stachys sylvatica
Stellaria graminea
Stellaria media
Stellaria nemorum
Taraxacum officinale s.l.
Teucrium scorodonia
Tragopogon pratensis
Trifolium arvense
Trifolium hybridum
Trifolium pratense
Trifolium repens
Trisetum flavescens
Ulmus glabra
Urtica dioica
Vaccinium myrtillus
Valeriana officinalis
Verbascum lychnitis
Verbena officinalis
Veronica chamaedrys
Veronica officinalis
Veronica persica
Veronica urticifolia
Vicia cracca
Vicia sepium
Viola hirta
Viola reichenbachiana
Vulpia myuros


2 July 2023: The Roselend  (Google map)

Acinos alpinus
Adenostyles alliariae
Ajuga genevensis
Ajuga reptans
Alchemilla glabra
Allium schoenoprasum
Alnus alnobetula
Alopecurus pratensis
Antennaria dioica
Anthyllis vulneraria
Arabis ciliata
Arabis hirsuta
Arabis serpillifolia
Arnica montana
Asplenium ruta-muraria
Asplenium viride
Aster alpinus
Astragalus alpinus
Astrantia major
Astrantia minor
Bartsia alpina
Bellidastrum michelii
Biscutella laevigata
Blysmus compressus
Botrychium lunaria
Briza media
Calluna vulgaris
Caltha palustris
Campanula cochleariifolia
Campanula scheuchzeri
Cardamine amara
Cardamine pratensis
Carduus defloratus
Carex atrata
Carex binervis
Carex crawfordii
Carex davalliana
Carex demissa
Carex flacca
Carex flava
Carex nigra
Carex ornithopoda
Carex pallescens
Carex panicea
Carex paniculata
Carex rostrata
Carlina acaulis
Carum carvi
Centaurea uniflora
Cerastium latifolium
Chaerophyllum villarsii
Cirsium spinosissimum
Clinopodium vulgare
Crepis aurea
Crocus spec.
Cystopteris alpina
Dactylorhiza fuchsii
Dactylorhiza maculata
Dactylorhiza majalis
Dactylorhiza viridis
Danthonia decumbens
Daphne mezereum
Doronicum grandiflorum
Dryas octopetala
Dryopteris carthusiana
Eleocharis quinqueflora
Elymus caninus
Epilobium alpestre
Epilobium lanceolatum
Epilobium palustre
Epipactis atrorubens
Equisetum variegatum
Erigeron acris
Eriophorum latifolium
Euphorbia cyparissias
Euphrasia salisburgensis
Galium anisophyllon
Galium spec.
Gentiana acaulis
Gentiana asclepiadea
Gentiana bavarica
Gentiana lutea
Geum montanum
Geum rivale
Globularia cordifolia
Globularia nudicaulis
Gnaphalium norvegicum
Gymnadenia conopsea
Hedysarum hedysaroides
Helictochloa pratensis
Hieracium villosum
Homogyne alpina
Huperzia selago
Hypericum maculatum subsp. maculatum
Juncus articulatus
Juncus filiformis
Juncus inflexus
Juniperus communis
Laserpitium latifolium
Leucanthemum adustum
Linum alpinum
Linum catharticum
Luzula campestris
Luzula forsteri
Luzula spicata
Minuartia verna
Myosotis alpestris
Myosotis alpina
Nardus stricta
Neottia ovata
Ononis spinosa
Orobanche alba
Orthilia secunda
Parnassia palustris
Pedicularis comosa
Pedicularis verticillata
Persicaria bistorta
Peucedanum ostruthium
Phleum alpinum
Phyteuma hemisphaericum
Phyteuma ovatum
Pilosella lactucella
Pimpinella major
Pinguicula alpina
Pinguicula vulgaris
Plantago alpina
Plantago atrata
Platanthera bifolia
Poa alpina
Poa cenisia
Poa glauca
Polygala vulgaris
Polygonum viviparum
Polystichum aculeatum
Polystichum lonchitis
Potentilla erecta
Potentilla montana
Potentilla verna
Primula farinosa
Prunella grandiflora
Pseudorchis albida
Pulsatilla alpina
Ranunculus aconitifolius
Ranunculus montanus
Rhamnus alpina
Rhinanthus alectorolophus
Rhodiola rosea
Rhododendron ferrugineum
Ribes alpinum
Rosa canina s.s.
Rosa pendulina
Rubus saxatilis
Rumex acetosella
Rumex alpestris
Rumex alpinus
Sagina glabra
Salix herbacea
Salix myrsinifolia
Salix reticulata
Salix retusa
Saxifraga aizoides
Saxifraga exarata
Saxifraga oppositifolia
Saxifraga paniculata
Saxifraga rotundifolia
Scabiosa lucida
Sedum annuum
Sedum atratum
Sedum dasyphyllum
Selaginella denticulata
Sempervivum montanum
Senecio doronicum
Seseli montanum
Sesleria caerulea
Silene acaulis
Silene flos-cuculi
Silene rupestris
Solidago virgaurea
Sorbus aria
Sorbus chamaemespilus
Thesium alpinum
Thymus pulegioides
Traunsteinera globosa
Trichophorum cespitosum
Trifolium aureum
Trifolium badium
Trifolium montanum
Trifolium rubens
Trifolium thalii
Triglochin palustris
Trollius europaeus
Tussilago farfara
Vaccinium uliginosum
Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Valeriana dioica
Valeriana tripteris
Veratrum album
Veronica arvensis
Veronica beccabunga
Veronica fruticans
Veronica fruticulosa
Veronica serpyllifolia
Veronica spicata
Vicia sativa subsp. segetalis
Viola biflora
Viola calcarata


3 July 2023: Bois de la Thuliettaz (near Hauteluce)  (Google map)
Achillea macrophylla
Agrostis stolonifera
Alchemilla mollis
Athyrium distentifolium
Bromopsis ramosa subsp. benekenii
Campanula spec.
Cardamine flexuosa
Cardamine impatiens
Carex brunnescens
Carex canescens
Carex echinata
Carex otrubae
Carex pilulifera
Cicerbita alpina
Circaea alpina
Cirsium eriophorum
Conopodium majus
Crepis paludosa
Cystopteris fragilis
Digitalis grandiflora
Digitalis lutea
Dryopteris dilatata
Euphrasia minima
Galium rotundifolium
Gentiana punctata
Glyceria notata
Gnaphalium sylvaticum
Gymnocarpium robertianum
Hesperis matronalis
Juncus effusus
Lonicera caerulea
Luzula multiflora
Luzula pilosa
Lysimachia nemorum
Maianthemum bifolium
Melampyrum pratense
Melica uniflora
Milium effusum
Oreopteris limbosperma
Paris quadrifolia
Petasites albus
Phyteuma betonicifolium
Pilosella aurantiaca
Pilosella officinarum
Poa laxa
Pyrola minor
Ranunculus lanuginosus
Ranunculus platanifolius
Sanicula europaea
Senecio ovatus
Sorbus mougeotii
Spergularia rubra
Spinulum annotinum
Struthiopteris spicant
Tilia platyphyllos
Veronica montana
Viola lutea


3 July 2023: Les Pacats (1021m)  (Google map)
Campanula rapunculoides
Coronilla emerus
Epilobium parviflorum
Hieracium umbellatum
Lathyrus latifolius
Pteridium aquilinum
Senecio sylvaticus


4 July 2023: From La Ville des Glaciers to Col de la Seigne (Mont Blanc)  (Google map)
Alchemilla alpina
Amelanchier ovalis
Anemonastrum narcissiflorum
Antennaria carpatica
Anthoxanthum alpinum
Arabis alpina
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Armeria alpina
Asteraceae indet.
Betonica hirsuta
Bupleurum stellatum
Cardamine plumieri
Coincya monensis
Cryptogramma crispa
Cuscuta epithymum
Doronicum clusii
Epilobium collinum
Epilobium fleischeri
Equisetum palustre
Galeopsis ladanum
Galeopsis tetrahit
Gentiana verna
Geranium macrorrhizum
Geum x sudeticum (G. montanum x G. rivale)
Gymnadenia densiflora
Gypsophila repens
Helianthemum nummularium
Hippophae rhamnoides
Hugueninia tanacetifolia
Hypericum richeri
Juncus triglumis
Leucanthemopsis alpina
Lilium martagon
Linaria alpina
Lonicera nigra
Luzula nivalis
Minuartia laricifolia
Neotinea ustulata
Nigritella rhellicani
Onobrychis montana
Orchis mascula
Orchis militaris
Orobanche caryophyllacea
Oxytropis campestris
Pedicularis gyroflexa
Phyteuma orbiculare
Picris hieracioides
Pilosella peleteriana
Potentilla grandiflora
Prunus padus
Ranunculus alpestris
Rhamnus alaternus
Rhinanthus angustifolius
Rosa glauca
Rosa pseudoscabriuscula
Rumex scutatus
Salix purpurea
Sambucus ebulus
Saxifraga aspera
Saxifraga stellaris
Sempervivum arachnoideum
Soldanella alpina
Stachys alpina
Stachys recta
Valeriana montana
Valeriana wallrothii
Veronica austriaca


5 July 2023: Around the Lac de Saint Guérin (1570-1898m) (Google Map)
Aconitum lycoctonum subsp. vulparia
Adenostyles glabra
Blitum bonus-henricus
Carduus personata
Chaerophyllum aureum
Cirsium helenioides auct.
Cirsium oleraceum
Equisetum sylvaticum
Erigeron alpinus
Erucastrum nasturtiifolium
Euphorbia dulcis
Euphrasia officinalis
Hippocrepis comosa
Inula helvetica
Juncus alpinoarticulatus
Lysimachia punctata
Molinia caerulea
Onobrychis viciifolia
Phleum rhaeticum
Pilosella piloselloides
Pilosella x derubella (P. aurantiaca x P. piloselloides)
Pimpinella major var. rubra
Poa compressa
Polygala vulgaris subsp. oxyptera
Primula hirsuta
Scirpus sylvaticus
Tofieldia calyculata
Trifolium alpinum
Verbascum nigrum
Vicia sylvatica
Vincetoxicum hirundinaria
Viola palustris


5 July 2023: Around the river Isère in Albertville  (Google Map)
Ailanthus altissima
Allium oleraceum
Allium vineale
Anagallis arvensis
Anisantha sterilis
Arctium minus
Bellis perennis
Bryonia dioica
Buddleja davidii
Calamagrostis epigejos
Calamagrostis phragmitoides
Carex hirta
Castanea sativa
Centranthus ruber
Clematis vitalba
Crepis foetida
Crepis setosa
Cynodon dactylon
Digitaria ischaemum
Diplotaxis tenuifolia
Erigeron sumatrensis
Erodium cicutarium
Euphorbia maculata
Ficus carica
Forsythia suspensa
Geranium rotundifolium
Glebionis segetum
Helianthus tuberosus
Helminthotheca echioides
Herniaria hirsuta
Hibiscus syriacus
Hordeum murinum
Lepidium campestre
Lepidium draba
Lepidium ruderale
Lepidium virginicum
Ligustrum vulgare
Lythrum salicaria
Malva neglecta
Medicago falcata
Medicago x varia (M. falcata x M. sativa)
Oenothera x fallax (O. biennis x O. glazioviana)
Orobanche hederae
Oxalis stricta
Panicum capillare
Panicum miliaceum
Papaver dubium
Parthenocissus vitacea
Persicaria lapathifolia
Petrorhagia prolifera
Platanus x hispanica (P. occidentalis x P. orientalis)
Populus nigra
Populus x canescens (P. alba x P. tremula)
Portulaca oleracea
Potentilla indica
Prunus cerasifera
Robinia pseudoacacia
Rostraria cristata
Rubus caesius
Rumex conglomeratus
Saponaria officinalis
Scrophularia canina
Setaria viridis
Sinapis arvensis
Solanum nigrum
Stachys palustris
Thesium pyrenaicum
Torilis japonica
Trifolium campestre
Verbascum pulverulentum
Verbascum thapsus
Verbena bonariensis
Viola odorata


6 July 2023: Moûtiers  (Google map)
Acer opalus
Agrimonia eupatoria
Ajuga chamaepitys
Alcea rosea
Allium sphaerocephalon
Alyssoides utriculata
Amaranthus hybridus
Arabis turrita
Artemisia absinthium
Artemisia campestris
Asplenium ceterach
Berberis vulgaris
Carduus nutans
Cephalanthera damasonium
Clinopodium acinos
Clinopodium calamintha
Consolida ajacis
Cornus sanguinea
Digitaria sanguinalis
Dysphania ambrosioides
Echium vulgare
Elaeagnus multiflora
Epipactis helleborine
Erigeron schleicheri
Erucastrum gallicum
Eschscholzia californica
Euonymus europaeus
Fagus sylvatica
Fallopia convolvulus
Foeniculum vulgare
Galium rubrum
Gazania spec.
Geranium purpureum
Geranium sanguineum
Helleborus foetidus
Isatis tinctoria
Lactuca perennis
Lactuca virosa
Laserpitium siler
Melica ciliata
Melilotus officinalis
Misopates orontium
Nigella damascena
Odontites luteus
Ononis natrix
Oxalis corniculata
Petrorhagia saxifraga
Phleum phleoides
Pinus sylvestris
Polycarpon tetraphyllum
Prunus dulcis
Prunus mahaleb
Prunus spinosa
Rosa arvensis
Sagina apetala
Securigera varia
Sempervivum tectorum
Senecio inaequidens
Setaria verticillata
Silene latifolia
Silene nutans
Solidago virgaurea subsp. minuta
Tamus communis
Teucrium chamaedrys
Thuja orientalis
Tragopogon dubius
Vitis vinifera


6 July 2023: Le Nant Agot  (Google map)
Achillea nobilis
Achnatherum calamagrostis
Andryala integrifolia
Aquilegia atrata
Asplenium adiantum-nigrum
Astragalus hypoglottis
Campanula persicifolia
Carex montana
Carlina vulgaris
Centaurea triumfettii
Centaurium erythraea
Cephalanthera rubra
Chamaenerion dodonaei
Cirsium acaule
Cotoneaster tomentosus
Cypripedium calceolus
Dianthus sylvestris
Eupatorium cannabinum
Goodyera repens
Hieracium amplexicaule
Inula conyzae
Jacobaea erucifolia
Limodorum abortivum
Lonicera xylosteum
Melampyrum nemorosum
Monotropa hypopitys subsp. hypophegea
Platanthera chlorantha
Quercus pubescens
Rhamnus cathartica
Solanum dulcamara
Teucrium montanum
Thalictrum aquilegiifolium
Trifolium alpestre


7 July 2023: Lac de l’Arpettaz (1950m) – Le grand Plan (2104m) – Lac du Branlay (2027m)  (Google map)
Barbarea verna
Betonica officinalis
Campanula barbata
Campanula rhomboidalis
Carex foetida
Carex frigida
Carex sempervirens
Centaurea montana
Centaurea nervosa
Cicerbita plumieri
Cruciata laevipes
Cuscuta europaea
Empetrum nigrum
Eriophorum scheuchzeri
Festuca paniculata
Gentiana clusii
Helictotrichon versicolor
Jasione montana
Lapsana communis subsp. intermedia
Larix decidua
Leontodon helveticus
Luzula alpinopilosa
Myosotis sylvatica
Paradisea liliastrum
Paronychia polygonifolia
Pinguicula leptoceras
Plantago maritima
Polygala chamaebuxus
Sedum alpestre
Sedum montanum
Sisymbrium austriacum
Tanacetum vulgare
Tragopogon pratensis subsp. orientalis
Veronica aphylla
Veronica serpyllifolia subsp. humifusa
Viola canina