On August 9, a small contingent (two leaders and one member) from the Botany Group enjoyed a mid- to late-summer field trip to Paradise Meadows. This subalpine environment (elevation 1200 m) offers many plants different from those at lower levels. At this point in the season, a good number of plants were still flowering, but attention was also given to identification using leaves, fruits, branching patterns, and general habit where flowering was finished. We also considered distinctions between some related species—for example, subalpine fir vs. amabilis fir, slender rein orchid vs. fragrant white rein orchid, and dwarf blueberry vs. bog blueberry. And we studied the characteristics of many other plants in the varied habitats of the Meadows.
Co-leader Véronique has again provided us with a photographic guide to many of the observed species. You can download the guide here (PDF, 7.4 MB).
Here’s a selection of photos from the guide [click a photo to see the whole image]:
