Trifolium badium is another high altitude clover species (1200 m to 2800 m). It is a late stage perennial, helping to fix nitrogen in soil that already exists. Its seeds are shy, staying dormant even after mechanical scarification or chemical scarification with H₂SO₄. Giving them a 3 minute soak in near boiling water helps (90 °C), allowing 10% to germinate.[1]
2023-07-10 Lac de Pramol, Montricher-Albanne, France
[1] Can, E., Çeliktaş, N., Hatipoğlu, R., Avcı, S. (2009). Breaking seed dormancy of some annual Medicago and Trifolium species by different treatments. Turkish Journal Of Field Crops, 14(2), 72-78.
Despite 7000 potential fodder species in the wild, only 30 of them feed the world.[doi:10.5937/ratpov51-4896] Gene banks focus on cultivars, selected and tuned to current climate and soil conditions, with about 15% of stored seeds coming from wild relatives. Trifolium alpestre is not promising, having relatively low nutritional content and a limited altitude range. Worse, it is high in isoflavones, the plant-based estrogen mimics that lead to sterility, abortions, neonatal mortality and uterine prolapses in sheep.[doi:10.1021/jf00049a020] With 194 mg/100 g in the leaves their concentration is 4x higher than raw soybeans.[Data available (for now) from the USDA Database for the Isoflavone Content of Selected Foods.]
2023-07-09 Lac de Parmol, Montricher-Albanne, France
Like Howell’s pussytoe (RBD #407) Antennaria dioica is dioecious (Ancient Greek dis+oikos = two houses), with separate male and female plants (along with several intersex variants[DOI:10.1093/genetics/21.3.282] because biology is complicated). They also reproduce asexually, sending out runners to form a loose clonal colony.
2023-07-11 Col de Charroute, Montricher-Albanne, France
At 2500 mm, this Gagea fragifera was hiding from the wind in a little hollow at the top of the mountain. The Gagea genus is messy with 270 species formed through hybridization and reduplication of the genome. Even within G. fragifera there are specimens with 4-, 5- and 7-fold polyploidy.[doi:10.1007/s00606-008-0102-3] They are pretty bad at sex, with 40% deformed pollen and less than 1% seed set ratio.[1] It could be worse: almost all G. spathacea from Belgium to Kaliningrad are a single clone with 9-fold polyploidy (136 out of 137 specimens).[doi:10.1016/j.flora.2012.03.002] How it managed the leap to Sweden and to the Italian Alps when it is spread only by underground bulbs is a mystery.
2023-07-13 Pointe de Chaudannes, Montricher-Albanne, France
[1] Gargano D, Peruzzi L, Caparelli KF, Cesca G (2007) Preliminary observations on the reproductive strategies in five early-flowering species of Gagea Salisb. (Liliaceae). Bocconea 21:349–358
Centaurea montana and its cultivars are popular in the garden, both for people and for bumble bees (not so much for honey bees because their tongues are too short: 6.6 mm rather than 7.8 mm).[doi:10.2478/JAS-2014-0016] Native to the mountains of south and central Europe, it is easy to grow and prone to self-seeding, landing it on the Northwest Invasive Plant Council list of weeds.
2023-07-09 Les Karellis, Montricher-Albanne, France
Another edible, though with distinctly bitter leaves that can be eaten together with the flowers as part of a salad.[wikipedia.fr] The roots can be sucked like licorice for a refreshing sweetness, or transformed into a bitter tonic for anxiety or stomach upset. The latin Centaurea jacea comes from Chiron the Centaur, who is said to have discovered the medicinal properties of knapweeds.
2023-07-09 Les Karellis, France
Malva sylvestris is something of a panacea, used for 5000+ years to treat all sorts of conditions.[doi:10.1155/2021/5548404] Like other mallows it is mucilaginous (from Latin mucus=slimy), so good for making poultices where its antimicrobial and wound healing activities can shine (thank you, rats, for your service, even if it wasn’t voluntary).[doi:10.22038/AJP.2015.4327] It is also claimed to be a nutritious vegetable, full of antioxidants.[eatweeds.co.uk]
2023-07-08 Aéroport Charles de Gaulle, Roissy-en-France, France
Dianthus carthusianorum grows wild from the north of Spain all the way to Ukraine. Its flowers are edible, though judged least popular of a dozen flowers, just above chicory (Cichorium intybus) but well below wild garlic (Allium ursinum) and peony (Paeonia officianalis).[DOI:10.3390/horticulturae7070166] It keeps for a week at 5°C; dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) should be used immediately. Peony and rose (Rosa canina, R. pendulina) are best for antioxidants.[DOI:10.3390/horticulturae7070166]
2023-07-08 Aéroport Charles de Gaulle, Roissy-en-France, France
Ichneumonidae[Wikipedia] is a huge family of parasitoid wasps (25,000 described species, >100,000 total). These are endoparasites whose larvae feed off the insides of insects and spiders. The name “Darwin wasps” is a 2019 rebranding to bring attention to Ichneumonid research, based on the quote: “I cannot persuade myself that a beneficent and omnipotent God would have designedly created the Ichneumonidae with the express intention of their feeding within the living bodies of Caterpillars.” – Darwin (1860). Research is ongoing, with over 200 species being described per year. Amongst them may be a future biocontrol agent for an important crop pest.*
2023-07-12 Ruisseau des Moulins, Montricher-Albanne, France
* A link to Tanya’s video of oleander aphids in their defensive dance against Darwin wasps.