Homogyne alpina - Alpine Coltsfoot

Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Asterales - Family: Asteraceae

This alpine spring wildflower occurs in high-altitude mossy woodlands, particularly under conifers. Often the leaves are obscured by other low-growing plants, mosses and leaf litter, creating the false impression that flowering stems arise directly from the soil.

Description

Scaly flowering stems emerge from a rosette of shiny dark-green leathery leaves that are kidney-shaped, markedly veined, hairless on the upper surface and reddish and almost hairless on their undersides. The near-vertical stems are purplish, and the lovely compound flowers are pale pink to purple. Flower heads, which are surrounded by a single row of red-briwn pointed bracts, are typically 15mm across. Each floret comprises typically 25 to 30 individual five-petalled pink flowers. Plants are typically 15 to 30cm tall but exceptionally they can reach 40cm.

This species is most readily separated from the closely-related Homogyne discolor by the features of its leaves. H. discolor has felt-like leaves that are pale and hairy on their undersides (see picture below), while the leaves of H. alpina are reddish on their undersides.

Above: The leaves of Homogyne discolor, showing the whitish felted underside that distinguishes this species from its close relative Homogyne alpina.

Habitat

Most often seen in damp, shaded alpine woodland edges on thin alkaline soil.

Distribution

Native to much of northern and central Europe, including one known location in Scotland; to the east the range of this species extends into much of Asia.

Blooming times

Alpine Coltsfoot flowers from April to August.

Etymology

The genus name Homogyne means 'uniform,' which relates to the close physical similarity of plants in this genus. The specific epithet alpina refers to the alpine habitats in which this species occurs.

The Alpine Coltsfoot specimens shown on this page were photographed in Slovenia during May and June.

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