Linaria alpina
Encyclopedia
Linaria alpina, sometimes called alpine toadflax, is a purple-flowered member of the genus Linaria
. It is found in many mountain ranges in southern
and central Europe
from the Sierra de Gredos
and the Montes de León
in Spain
to the mountains of the Balkan Peninsula
including the Jura mountains
Alps
, Pyrenees
, and central Apennines
.
It is an early colonist of recently exposed and unconsolidated glacial moraine
In contrast to other members of the genus, L. alpina has purple flowers, with orange lobes in the centre (in some forms, these are also purple).
Linaria
Linaria is a genus of about 100 species of herbaceous annuals and perennials that was traditionally placed in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae. Due to new genetic research, it has now been placed in the vastly expanded family Plantaginaceae...
. It is found in many mountain ranges in southern
Southern Europe
The term Southern Europe, at its most general definition, is used to mean "all countries in the south of Europe". However, the concept, at different times, has had different meanings, providing additional political, linguistic and cultural context to the definition in addition to the typical...
and central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
from the Sierra de Gredos
Sierra de Gredos
The Sierra de Gredos is a mountain range in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, located between Ávila, Cáceres, Madrid and Toledo. It has been declared a regional park. Its highest point is Pico Almanzor, at 2,592 metres....
and the Montes de León
Montes de León
The Montes de León is a mountain range in north-western Spain, in the province of León. This range is located at the confluence of the Cantabrian Mountains and the Macizo Galaico. The summits of the range are often covered with snow in the winter.The highest peak is Teleno, at...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to the mountains of the Balkan Peninsula
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
including the Jura mountains
Jura mountains
The Jura Mountains are a small mountain range located north of the Alps, separating the Rhine and Rhone rivers and forming part of the watershed of each...
Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
, Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
, and central Apennines
Apennine mountains
The Apennines or Apennine Mountains or Greek oros but just as often used alone as a noun. The ancient Greeks and Romans typically but not always used "mountain" in the singular to mean one or a range; thus, "the Apennine mountain" refers to the entire chain and is translated "the Apennine...
.
It is an early colonist of recently exposed and unconsolidated glacial moraine
In contrast to other members of the genus, L. alpina has purple flowers, with orange lobes in the centre (in some forms, these are also purple).