This pocket field guide to identifying 230 common Alpine flowers is packed with all the information you need to recognise your favourites while out in the mountains. Designed for the non-specialist, this little handbook is arranged by colour and also includes a glossary of flower parts and an introduction which describes the amazing lengths that these tiny gems go to to survive at altitude. Alpine expert author Gillian Price says: 'It never ceases to amaze me that such tiny plants can spend months on end buried under metres of snow and ice - weathering temperatures as low as minus 25°C - then sprout back to life when things thaw out and warm up. In springtime you can spot the fragile purple petals of the Alpine Snowbell pushing their way through snow - they contain an anti-freeze that enables them to melt it. Masters of adaptation and survival, alpine flowers can trap insects, store precious water, expel excess minerals and fool insects.' Each flower entry includes a clear photograph and essential description along with its name in English, Latin, German, French and Italian and interesting information about the origins of some of the more curious flower names. Each one is also indexed by its English and its Latin name so you can follow up a hunch about a name or find out more about a flower.

Glossary

Introduction

Survival Techniques
Reproduction
Migration and Climate Change
Naming
Identification
Distribution

Flowers

Red
Yellow
Blue
Purple
White

Appendices

Botanical Gardens across the Alps
Flower Index

Seasons

Flowers don't begin appearing until early spring (March) at medium altitudes with the thaw under way. The whole brilliant show is in full swing up at high altitudes from June through to August/September, but many flowers also come out as late as October.

May 2014

Information update

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