BSBINews - BSBI Archive - Botanical Society of the British Isles

54 Report of overseas field meeting - 2009 - Paramos of Northern Castile (Spain)
From Sargentes de la Lora, we turned north
along dusty tracks and parked on the Paramo
de La Lora proper: slabs of baked limestone,
punctuated only by scattered rocky outcrops,
a few small copses of stunted Quercus ilex ssp.
ballota (Western Holm Oak) and some diffident
attempts at cultivation of the thin soils.
There was little vegetation above knee
height, but the predominant woody species
were Juniperus communis (Common Juniper),
Spiraea hypericifolia ssp. obovata, Genista
hispanicus ssp. occidentalis (Spanish Gorse)
and G. scorpius. Ranunculus gramineus and
Linum narbonense were accompanied by
Iberis saxatilis, the Spanish endemic stork's
bill Erodium daucoides (see Back Cover) and
Parentucellia latifolia (Southern Red Bartsia).
Wherever there was enough soil to sustain
them, there were dense drifts of orchids,
principally the Orchis and Ophrys species
seen earlier, but with the addition of Neotinea
maculata (Dense-flowered Orchid), and the
yellow Dactylorhiza insularis.
Lunch was taken atop a small limestone
cliff, at the base of which flourished a huge
colony of Cystopterisfragilis (Brittle Bladderfern).
In the afternoon, some members of the
group explored a nearby stream, encountering
a flora a little more familiar to us from northern
Europe: Carex paniculata (Greater
Tussock-sedge), Carex viridula ssp. brachyrrhyncha
(= c. lepidocarpa; Long-stalked
Yellow-Sedge), lemon-yellow Tetragonolobus
maritimus (Dragon's-teeth) and a solitary
spike of Neottia ovata (= Listera ovata;
Twayblade).
Turning 'homewards', we visited one of the
many Neolithic dolmens of La Lora, its central
chamber lined with huge vertical slabs of
stone; these laborious constructions are
thought to have been of great religious or
ritual significance to the people of that time.
Nearby was a spring of clear water, around
which we found the attractive crucifer Sisymbrella
aspera ssp. aspera, Mentha pulegium
(Pennyroyal), Senecio aquaticus (Marsh
Ragwort) and a lemon-yellow hoop petticoat
daffodil, which Leslie declared to be the tetraploid
Narcissus bulbocodium ssp. citrinus.
17th May - Puerto de Piedrasluengas (P)
Sunday saw us heading back towards the
mountains, this time to the limestone-dominated
pass of Piedrasluengas (1 ,355m).
Emerging from Quercus pyrenaica (Pyrenean
Oak) woodlands around Cervera de Pisuerga,
we headed up into the stream-side meadows
just below the pass, where large numbers of
the spectacular Narcissus pseudonarcissus
were growing amongst vivid clumps of
Euphorbia hyberna (Irish Spurge), and we
indulged in a little Narcissus-based taxonomic
controversy: were they in fact ssp.leonensis or
nobilis? Cardamine raphanifolia (Greater
Cuckooflower), Trollius europaeus
(Globeflower) and Dactylorhiza incarnata
(Early Marsh-orchid) were just coming into
bloom along the margins of the stream.
From the mirador at the head of the pass,
surrounded by beechwoods and jagged
limestone crags, we admired the view of the
Picos de Europa to the north. Soon we were
hopping from crag to crag in search of alpine
delights, but again the lateness of the season
was evident, even on the southerly exposures.
The northern Spanish endemic Saxifraga
canaliculata was everywhere, but barely in
bud, while the lime-encrusting Saxifraga
paniculata (Livelong Saxifrage) had to rely on
its undoubted vegetative appeal. However,
Anemone pavoniana was flowering very
prettily on the cliffs and there were bright
splashes of yellow from the crucifer Erysimum
duriaei. Both species are unique to the
Cordillera Cantabrica. Other crucifers in
flower were the dainty Pritzelago (= Hutchinsia)
alpina ssp. auerswaldii, growing alongside
'pincushions' of the local endemic Draba
dedeana, and we were also delighted with the
Iberian endemic grass Oreochloa confusa,
distinguished by its neat, two-ranked spikes.
More widespread montane plants here
included sheets of Potentilla crantzii (Alpine
Cinquefoil), Ribes alpinum (Mountain
Currant), the delicate pink-and-white Potentilla
micrantha and Astragalus depressus
(Sprawling Milk-vetch). Acinos alpinus
(Alpine Calamint) and Chaenorhinum origanifolium
(Malling Toadflax) looked good