I spent ages trying to identify this plant as a milkvetch (Astragalus sp or Oxytropis sp), but it turns out to be a clover, Trifolium alpinum. I photographed this one in Switzerland in the middle of its range, at just under 2000 metres (it can be found from about 1700 metres to 2800 metres). The species is an important native forage plant for all those charming cows in the mountains, and a good stabiliser of eroded areas. They like cold, damp sunny sites with poor acid soil.
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2 comments:
Very pretty clover... I'd've said vetch, too!
Shame it wouldn't work here... we can do the cold and damp... but not the sunny, acid nor altitude!
Yes, it's a very striking plant, but you'd have to have just the right conditions. I certainly didn't see it everywhere in Switzerland, it was quite localised.
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