The Saussurea
The alpine saw-wart (Saussurea alpina) is an extremely rare artic-alpine specie that grows on acidic, rocky pastures and on windy slopes.
Its name originates from the swiss scientist, Honoré Benedict De Saussure to whom the flower was dedicated; the promoter of the first ascent of Mont Blanc, which was conquered in 1786.
 
 

Natural environments

The alpine pasture
At about 2000 metres, beyond the woodland’s upper limit, green meadows cover the mountain slopes and host a great variety of alpine species.
The Gramineae and Cyperaceae predominate and constitute an important food source for flocks and wild herbivores. Widespread is the Nardus stricta, a plant with coriaceous leaves which is selectively avoided by grazers, therefore expands more than other species and tends to dominate.
During the summer, the alpine pasture becomes extremely colourful due to the presence of many intensely scented flowering species.

Alpine wetlands
In the Alps, water meets the soil along glacial streams and ponds. In these environments, the soil is rich in moisture and even periodically flooded.
The soil along streams is usually very well drained and rich in gravel, but at the same time it is also moist due to water rising to the surface through capillarity.
The most common species in this environment are monocromatic, such as the dwarf willow, various rushes and sedges.
However, these are often associated with more colourful species that towards the end of summer enrich river banks with their cushions of flowers.
The “wet” meadow normally surrounds water. This is the natural habitat for several species of orchids and wild garlic with its dark pink flowers.

Talus slopes
This natural environment is situated just below the limit of perennial snow. In these severe conditions, plants grow on loose detritus, sand and in thin soil often poor in nutrients. Occasionally, they stabilize being slowly colonised by vegetation.
However talus slopes can be extremely unstable environments due to the continuous addition of detrital material.
The species that colonise this environment appear as green oasis amongst the grey detritus.

Seasonal snowbank environment
Is a small depression on the mountain slope where snow remains for more than nine months of the year. When the soil defrosts it is full of moisture.
This environment hosts dwarfed species which adapt to exploit the very scarce resources available and which can complete their vegetative cycle in a short period of time.
A typical specie of such aveas is the herbaceous willow, a miniature tree only a few centimetres tall that covers the ground often forming a dense mat.

Alnetum
It’s vegetative association that often thrives on the sub-alpine plane, extends along crumbling  slopes, humid north-facing detritic fans or along the banks of glacial streams.
The most important specie is the green alder, a deciduous shrub that can easily reach a height of three metres and cover large areas making them impenetrable.
The green alder is a pioneer specie that succeeds in stabilising crumbling soils with its extensive root system and is resistant to avalanches thanks to its flexible branches that bend but don’t break under snow.
It grows in association with tall grasses (Megaforbie) that have specific nitrogen requirements.

Rhododendrum-vaccinetum
It represents the gradual transition between the coniferous wood and the alpine pasture. It is also called the “contorted shrubs” horizon due to the presence of woody species with prostrate and crawling habits.
A typical specie is the alpenrose, an evergreen shrub that grows on soils rich in humus, prefering  north facing slopes where it receives a prolonged protection under the snow cover.
Blueberries are also widespread, renowened for their edible berries, along with several species of lichens.
The dwarfed juniper is present on the more exposed slopes, a shrub that grows very close to large boulders and exploits the heat retained by the rock.
 
 
 
 

The Botanical Alpine Garden Saussurea is open from the end of june till september 30th
Time 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. (August 9.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.)
At the first station of the Monte Bianco cable car – Courmayeur Mont Blanc – Aosta Valley - Italy