Endemics and subendemics

Around 30 endemic species and subspecies occur in the north-eastern Limestone Alps. Of these, 21 species occur in Upper Austria. In the area of Kalkalpen National Park , 14 Northeastern Alps endemics (subendemics and endemics) were identified in the course of biotope mapping. Some of the endemics, such as the black margined daisy, the Traunsee bedstraw or the Austrian spurge, are quite common in the national park, while others have only been detected sporadically.

Three delicate white anemones with yellow flower heads bloom between the limestone rocks
Flowers of the anemone ornamental flower ©HerfriedMarek

Endemic occurrences and their frequency:

German name

Scientific name

Frequency / number of biotope areas
Eastern Alps yarrow (endemic) Achillea clusiana 26
Ennstal silver mantle (endemic) Alchemilla anisiaca 182
Anemone ornamental flower (endemic Callianthemum anemonoides 75
Dark bellflower (endemic) Campanula pulla 101
Eastern Alps carnation (endemic) Dianthus alpinus 40
Star-haired rock flower (endemic) Draba stellata 10
Austrian spurge (endemic) Euphorbia austriaca 235
Traunsee bedstraw (subendemic) Galium truniacum 245
Black margined daisy (endemic) Leucanthemum atratum 339
Alpine pursewort (endemic) Thlaspi alpestre 74
Northeast alpine poppy (endemic) Papaver alpinum alpinum s.str. 7
Clusius primrose (subendemic) Primula clusiana 229
Kerner lungwort (endemic) Pulmonaria kerneri 229
Austrian alpine bluebell (subendemic) Soldanella austriaca 129

 

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Three delicate white anemones with yellow flower heads bloom between the limestone rocks
Flowers of the anemone ornamental flower ©HerfriedMarek

Profile of the anemone ornamental flower

Latin name: Callianthemum anemonoides
Flowering time: March - May
Habitat: In pine forests, on damp, shady rocks and scree, scattered to rare.
Observation tip: If you want to see the anemone ornamental flower, you have to be out and about in early spring. It blooms before its leaves are fully developed. Can be found on the south side up to the ridge of the Sengsengebirge.

The anemone ornamental flower is endemic to the north-eastern Limestone Alps, which means that it only occurs there and nowhere else in the world. Its range extends from the Schneeberg to Upper Austria. It grows in sparse coniferous forests, on rocks and fine soil-rich scree slopes in the montane altitudinal zone.

The anemone ornamental flower (Greek kallos = beauty, anthemos = flower) blooms early from March to May at the latest. During the rest of the year, only the long, basal, finely slit, gray-green leaves are visible. They resemble the leaves of wormwood in shape and color. At flowering time, it produces numerous flowers on short stalks which, at up to four centimetres in diameter, appear relatively large for this delicate plant.

The anemone orchid prefers lime-rich, moist rather than dry, fine-grained, stony soils. It finds suitable conditions in stony coniferous forests such as pine forests, in shady crevices and on dormant, fine-grained rock debris.

There are more than 400 endemic plant species in the Alps, the majority of which grow on rocks, scree slopes or in patchy grassland communities. In the course of biotope mapping, a total of 14 of the 18 endemic species occurring in Upper Austria have so far been identified at Kalkalpen National Park . The very limited occurrence of the endemics is explained by the fact that these species survived the ice ages in refugia, but were unable to spread again afterwards because more competitive species, especially trees, had already advanced. The anemone orchid is one of the few examples that has succeeded in adapting to the climatic characteristics of a forest community.

The occurrence of the anemone orchid in Kalkalpen National Park will hardly be affected by the advancing forest wilderness, as it mainly colonizes special sites such as rocks and scree slopes. At most, it may be displaced by more demanding ground plants where stony spruce and pine forests develop into shady spruce-fir-beech forests.

Status, endangerment and protection

Status Kalkalpen National Park: rare
Status Austria: scattered to rare
Red List Austria (1999): -
Red List Upper Austria (1997): -
Nature Conservation Act Upper Austria (2001): -

Purple flowering Clusius primula
Clusius primrose also called Jagablut ©AnglikaStückler

Profile Clusius primrose

Latin name: Primula clusiana
Flowering time: May - July
Habitat: Damp rocky meadows, damp grassland, snowy soils
Other:Endemic

The low-growing Clusius primrose is a plant of damp limestone rocks and rocky grasslands in the montane to alpine altitudes.

The Clusius primrose rarely grows taller than five centimeters. The whole-margined, somewhat fleshy leaves are arranged in a rosette close to the ground. The comparatively large, purple-red flowers are particularly characteristic. It owes its name "hunter's blood" to them. The flowering period ranges from the end of April to June, depending on the altitude. The flowers turn pale purple when they wither.

The Clusius primrose grows on moist, shallow, fine-soil and humus-poor soils of calcareous rocks. It finds the most favorable growing conditions in damp rocky meadows, damp lawns and snowy soils. It is a characteristic species of the cushion sedge grassland (Caricetum firmae). This low-growing grass community can only survive permanently in extreme locations. In the National Park, such sites can be found in the rocky, shady and humid lower sections of the steep Hintergebirgs gorges. The cushion sedge grasslands there are interlocked in a mosaic with stands of rusty sedge grasslands (Caricetum ferruginae).

There are more than 400 endemic plant species in the Alps, the majority of which grow on rocks, scree slopes or in patchy grassland communities. The very limited occurrence of endemics is explained by the fact that these species survived the ice ages in refuges, but were unable to spread again afterwards because more competitive species, especially trees, had already advanced. In the course of biotope mapping, a total of 14 of the 18 endemic species occurring in Upper Austria have been identified at Kalkalpen National Park .

The occurrence of the Clusius primula in the Kalkalpen National Park is largely restricted to extreme locations such as ravines and snowy soils due to the lack of alpine altitudes. Here it will not be affected by the increasing forest wilderness.

Status, endangerment and protection

Status Kalkalpen National Park: rare
Status Austria: common to rare
Red List Austria (1999): -
Red List Upper Austria (1997): -
Nature Conservation Act Upper Austria: fully protected

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