FlowersAxel Heiberg Island supports a beautiful, even spectacular flora. Flowers are most abundant in early July, when masses of purple saxifrage make the tundra appear red. Later in the month yellow mountain avens, then arctic fireweed take over as the dominant species. Particularly impressive is, however, the arctic poppy which, despite of its considerable size, blossoms even in the strongest of winds. Then there is alpine sorrel which has leaves rich in vitamin C and is used by Inuit to prevent scurvy. |
![Flowers Flowers](icons/arctic_poppy_colour_peak.jpg) Arctic poppy (Papaver radicatum) | ![Flowers Flowers](icons/arctic_heather.jpg) White arctic bell heather (Cassiope tetragona) | ![Flowers Flowers](icons/77_saxifraga.jpg) Purple saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia) | ![Flowers Flowers](icons/saxifrage_oppositiflora_2.jpg) Purple saxifrage, detail (Saxifraga oppositifolia) |
![Flowers Flowers](icons/white_saxifraga.jpg) Prickly saxifrage (Saxifraga tricuspidata Rothb.) | ![Flowers Flowers](icons/alpine_arnica_2.jpg) Alpine arnica (Arnica alpina) | ![Flowers Flowers](icons/white.jpg) Greater stitchwort (Stellaria holostea) | ![Flowers Flowers](icons/white_bee.jpg) Greater stitchwort (Stellaria holostea) with bumble bee |
![Flowers Flowers](icons/silene_acaulis_wide.jpg) Moss campion (Silene acaulis) | ![Flowers Flowers](icons/silene_acaulis.jpg) Moss campion, close-up (Silene acaulis) | ![Flowers Flowers](icons/butterflies.jpg) Capitate lousewort (Pedicularis capitata) | ![Flowers Flowers](icons/alpine_sorrel.jpg) Alpine sorrel (Oxyria digyna). |
![Flowers Flowers](icons/dryas.jpg) Mountain avens (Dryas integrifolia) | ![Flowers Flowers](icons/arctic_cinquefoil.jpg) Arctic cinquefoil (Potentilla hyparctica) | ![Flowers Flowers](icons/fireweed.jpg) Arctic fireweed (Chamaenerion (Epilobium) latifolium) | ![Flowers Flowers](icons/freweed_horns.jpg) Arctic Fireweed late in the season (Chamaenerion (Epilobium) latifolium) |
![Flowers Flowers](icons/hairy_lousewort.jpg) Hairy lousewort (Pedicularis hirsuta) | ![Flowers Flowers](icons/hairy_lousewort_2.jpg) Hairy lousewort close-up (Pedicularis hirsuta) | ![Flowers Flowers](icons/yellow.jpg) Draba oxycarpa Sommerf. | ![Flowers Flowers](icons/deep_purple.jpg) Erigeron spp., family Asteraceae |
Photos Jürg Alean |