Die Galmeiflora – ein Ökosystem im Extrem
Stolberg
On this mountain, what has no chance elsewhere grows.
The soils of the Snake Mountain contain high concentrations of zinc, lead, and other heavy metals. Only a few plants – the so-called metallophytes – survive under these conditions. They either store or avoid the toxic substances.
Among them bloom the galena violet, the galena golden samphire, and the galena bedstraw. Small, resilient, and surprisingly stable – they secure the soil and provide a habitat for insects like the galena blue.
Feeling like a trail search? 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.
