Die Galmeiflora – ein Ökosystem im Extrem
Stolberg
Things grow on this mountain that would not stand a chance elsewhere.
The soil of the Snake Mountain contains high concentrations of zinc, lead and other heavy metals. Only a few plants - the so-called metallophytes - survive under these conditions. They store or avoid the toxic substances.
The galmei violet, galmei milkweed and galmei kidney vetch bloom among them. Small, resilient and surprisingly stable - they protect the soil and provide a habitat for insects such as the Galmei blue butterfly.
Fancy a search for clues? Pay attention to the vegetation as you walk on: in some places it is low, almost sparse, then again dense and colorful. These patterns reveal how different the metal concentration in the soil is - and how precisely the plants have adapted to it.
