First spring flowers Vol. 2
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Extremely warm winter this year caused an early coming of spring. The first flowers start to bloom already in the beginning of March. To see them, we planned one additional walk, in an earlier term. During our originally scheduled walk in the beginning of April we had the opportunity to see not only the first spring flowers, slowly fading away, but also species blooming (normally) later.
We met in Devínska Nová Ves, from where we set off to Sandberg. We said a few words about the paleontological importance of this site, went to see the recent landslide of a wall of an old sand quarry, we looked where Bee-eaters nest when they return from Africa and after that we dedicated all our attention only to plants (and Green Lizards).
At first we observed “magical” circles of Dwarf Irises (Iris pumila). Than we wandered towards meadows covered with Yellow Pheasant´s Eyes, (Adonis vernalis), Grape Hyacinths (Muscari sp.), Herbaceous Periwinkle (Vinca herbacea), Scorzonera austriaca and we found also the first blooming Globe Daisies (Globularia cordifolia). As we saw later, at this time there were plenty of them at Kobyla.
Than we climbed through the eastern slope above Sandberg and went along the yellow path towards Devín. At shady places in forest we found the last blooming Liverworts (Hepatica nobilis/triloba). Those without flowers were easily recognizable by their typical three-lobed, from which is derived also the name of this tiny plant. Up at the open meadows we registered Small Pasque Flowers (Pulsatilla pratensis). Half of them already faded away, so besides flowers we could examine also their distinctive hairy fruits. From earlier blooming Greater Pasque Flowers (Pulsatilla grandis) we could admired only those. Forest floor two weeks ago was covered with white and violet flowers of Fumeworts (Corydalis sp.). Today we only found few of them flowering. Conversely, flowers of Yellow Anemone (Anemone ranunculoides) and two-toned flowers of Spring Pea (Lathyrus vernus) emerged in larger numbers. Along our way we saw violets (Viola sp.), Cowslips (Primula sp.) and Lungwort (Pulmonaria sp.). At many places we saw blooming Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), rather common plant. At many places European Green Lizards (Lacerta viridis) were basking in the sun very close to the path. We always made a stop and many participants took a picture of them, before they quickly ran under the vegetation. The last beuatifully colored male with a turquoise throat was almost enjoying our attention and let us admire him and took countless pictures of him. We finished our trip with a glass of Kofola and Hroznovka (popular Slovak soft drinks) under the Devín Castle.
List of observed plants in bloom:
Violets (Viola sp.)
Fumewort (Corydalis sp.)
Purple Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria)
Yellow Anemone (Anemone ranunculoides)
Grape-hyacinth (Muscari sp)
Yellow Pheasant ´s Eye (Adonis vernalis)
Small Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla pratensis)
Lungwort (Pulmonaria sp.)
Liverwort (Hepatica nobilis)
Dwarf Iris (Iris pumila)
Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum)
Cowslip (Primula veris)
Spring Pea (Lathyrus vernus)
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Globe Daisy (Globularia cordifolia)
Dog´s Mercury (Mercurialis perennis)
guľôčka srdcovolistá (Globularia cordifolia)
Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
Purple Gromwell (Lithospermum purpureo-coeruleum)
Scorzonera austriaca
Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias)
Meadow Sage (Salvia pratensis)
Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor) – determined by Tatiana
Herbaceous Periwinkle (Vinca herbacea)
