Flora in the Alps – Why are mosses so special?

Mosses are not quite what you would call one of the biggest eye catchers in the Alps. The jaw-dropping mountain views, an encounter with a wild alpine ibex or a colourful carpet of alpine flowers aren’t things a patch of moss can easily match. However, mosses line the floors of the Alps and are very special!  

From the “old world”

Mosses remind us about a time before flowering plants emerged. Flowers are a relatively new “invention” in plant evolution. Before flowering plants brightened up our planet with their beautiful colours, many species reproduced using spores. In our forests today, you can still find plenty of these spore-producing plants with ancient lineages, and mosses are one of them. The picture above shows a patch of moss with sporophytes (the stalk-like forms) on a fallen tree. No colourful flowers, but still very beautiful, isn’t it?

Other spore producing plants  

Ferns are similar to mosses, in that they have neither seeds nor flowers, and reproduce through spores. The picture below shows spores underneath a fern’s fronds where they grow in little clusters called sori. Although it’s not a jaw-dropping mountain view, it’s pretty artsy-looking, don’t you think?

Lichen, like ferns and mosses, also produce spores, but lichen aren’t like anything else in the plant kingdom. If you’d like to read more about lichen, read my article on ‘Why are lichen so special?’.

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Simone van Velzen

In her work as an alpine naturalist Simone adds an exciting new dimension to your Tour du Mont Blanc trek with insights into the incredibly rich flora and fauna of the Alps. Simone studied Wildlife Management at the Van Hall Institute in the Netherlands. After her studies she left her home country (which is flatter than a pancake) and moved to British Columbia. In the Canadian Rockies, she discovered the astonishing richness of mountain environments. Her passion for mountain nature was born. And when she returned to Europe, she based herself in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, the perfect setting for exploring and studying the natural history of mountain environments. As an alpine naturalist she writes for outdoor magazines and leads excursions in the natural world.

If you step into the natural world with Simone, her passion for all living things—wild flowers to lichen, birds to mammals—can’t help but rub off on you. She’s excited to meet you on your Tour du Mont Blanc and share the amazing natural wonders in the Alps.

Latest posts by Simone van Velzen (see all)

• The Alps: A Biodiversity Treasure Trove - December 10, 2020
• Flora in the Alps – Spotlight on the Alpenrose - June 25, 2020
• Tour du Mont Blanc Hightlight: The Contamines-Montjoie Nature Reserve - May 21, 2020