Kleewiese and Gahnshauswiese 9.5.2013

Herwig Gießwein has announced, that he wants to visit the Kleewiese near Gasteil repeatedly, to look for the seasonal changes in the vegetation. I have suggested to join him. Herwig was here on Sunday for his own, because I did not have time, and he reported on flourishing Green winged orchids. So, we both payed it a visit today.

Streuobstwiese near Gasteil - abundantly flourishing dandelions.

"Streuobstwiese": German term for a traditional type of extensive grassland-orchard management system, consisting of a meadow with scattered fruit trees (normally tall-growing, traditional varieties), usually mown once or twice a year; now an endangered, species-rich, semi-natural habitat found in cultural landscapes near villages


A few Grass lilies (Ornithogallum umbellatum)

After a short walk of half an hour we reach the Kleewiese ...

 ... and gaze at the Elder flowered orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina) ...

 ... this one in yellow.

Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna)

Cowslips (Primula veris)

And elder flowered orchid in the purple variant ...

 ... and once more yellow.

Cowslip.

Beim Abstieg durch den Wald sehen wir schon Fruchtstände der White butterbur (Petasites albus)

Back at the car at 10 am, so at my suggestion, we drive a few kilometers to Prigglitz and walk up to the Gahnshauswiese, which I have found in the map (without knowing the name) and had expected it to contain an interesting flora.

First interest is the landscape, which is lovely with good views to the Rax massive ...

Panoramic view of the Gahnshauswiese near Prigglitz. Click here or into the picture for a larger version.

Cowslips here too, ...

 ... but the main attraction is the thousands of Green winged orchids (Orchis morio) ...

 ... flourishing here ...

 ... in quite different colors and patterns. Dotted violet and striped pink ...

Very rare white albinos

Light pinkish - near white

 ... and once more violet

With a near white lip ...

 ... and intensely dotted exemplars.

Different varieties of violet

Another albino exemplar.

After an extensive exploration of the grassland we turn back.

View to Rax ...

 ... and Sonnwendstein.

Some places also grow dandelions, which is a sign for a bigger manure content - accordingly, the orchids are rare here.

home