Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1999, Page 151

SAUSSUREA ALPINA (L.) DC. SUBSP. ALPINA (ASTERACEAE) -
LOÐIN FJALLATISTIL: NÝGGJ SKRÁSETING ÚR FØROYUM
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1986) and is grouped with the Cardueae
tribus of the Cicorioideae subfamily in the
Asteraceae (Bremer, 1994). In Europe,
nine species are accepted in Flora Europea
(Tutin, etal., 1964-80).
Saussurea alpina is a polymorphic speci-
es distributed in Europe, and divided into
four subspecies according to Flora Euro-
pea. The taxon S. alpina Subsp. alpina is
widely distributed in most mountainous
areas in Europe, such as in Spain, France,
Yugoslavia, Poland and from Fennoscandia
to Russia and Siberia. A few localities on
limestone in southem Sweden are most
likely Holocene relicts (Berglund, 1966)
and belong to the slightly different taxon
Saussurea alpina Subsp. estonica. S.
alpina Subsp. alpina is found on mountain
cliffs and scree in northern Wales, England,
Scotland and Ireland, and also along the
sea-shore on maritime cliffs in northem
Scotland. It is very rare in Shetland with
only two known occurrences, on bare ex-
posed debris (fellfield) on granite plateaux
and slopes above 350 m a.s.l. and also at
100 m a.s.l. on stony ground. In Ireland and
central Europe, the plant grows in the high-
er mountains. It is noteworthy that Saus-
surea alpina does not grow in Iceland or in
Greenland, but does grow in Svalbard.
Saussurea alpina Subsp. alpina belongs
to the alpine-montane element as defined
by Dahl (1998) limited by maximum sum-
mer temperatures of +30°C or lower. In
Scandinavia, Saussurea alpina flourishes
on rich, mesic grounds in mountainous ar-
eas, in low-alpine to sub-alpine meadows,
Betula and coniferous forests, and also less
frequently higher up in alpine altitudes
The population discovered in the Faroe
Islands grows in basaltic gravel and scree
among boulders. The plant community
contains Thalictrum alpinum, Nardus stric-
ta, Thymus praecox, Empetrum nigrum
spp. hermaphroditum, Viola riviniana, Al-
chemilla alpina, Plantago maritima, Se-
dum villosum, Selaginella selaginoides,
Koenigia islandica, Carex demissa, Poly-
gonum viviparum and Festuca rubra.
How Did Saussurea alpina
Come to the Faroe Islands?
Whether Saussurea alpina is native or not
to Streymoy may be đifficult to say. The
route by which it arrived in the archipelago
is open to speculation. Saussurea alpina
has a feathery pappus and is adapted for
wind dispersal as a long distance dispersal
strategy. Thus, it would have a good
chance of reaching the Faroe Islands by
natural means. On the other hand, with the
increasing contact between the archipelago
and the rest of Europe by means of vehi-
cles, cultivated plants, etc. the unintendeđ
introduction of the species cannot be mled
out entirely. However, Saussurea alpina is
not known to grow in the Faroe Islands as
an omamental species, nor does it occur in
any of the large seaports of northem Eu-
rope.
It is, thus, most likely that the plant is
spontaneous in the Faroe Islands. Because
the plant appears to be restricted only to
this locality, it must be considered highly
endangered and susceptible to grazing by
sheep.