Alberta Plants – Alpine/Northern Anemone
by Dusty ~ August 25th, 2010. Filed under: Nature Notes, On The Road.High up in the Rockies in Alberta, amongst the Mountain anemone’s groups of Alpine or Northern anemones flourish.
[singlepic id=480 w=320 h=240 float=center]
They can be found in alpine and high-subalpine meadows. These pictures were taken high above Lake Louise around the tea hut. Though I did encounter up in the sunshine meadows as well. Notice the bluish tinge to the rear of the petals.
[singlepic id=481 w=320 h=240 float=center]
Like many alpine plants they form cups . Concave and up turned flowers collect solar energy – heat and warmth. The shape of the flowers concentrates the heat into the centre of the flower. And the centre is where the pollen and the nectar is. So once a pollinator had been attracted by the scent and perfume of the blooms, the flower also offers them a bit of warmth. Important at this altitude. So both the pollinator and flower the benefit. The bee or other insect a little burst of heat and the flower, because the pollinator lingers enjoying the warmth, and thus more pollen is collected and later distributed.
Nature discovered the cupola long before humans did. And to good effect the beauty of alpine meadows throughout the world!
