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Thriving among dry moraines, damp streamsides, screes and rocky places, the lovely white glacier crowfoot (Ranunculus glacialis) holds the record for Europe’s highest growing plant, while the azure blue King of the Alps (Eritrichium nanum) survives up to 3600m on acid rocks. This beautiful little plant forms a low, dense cushion of flower heads reminiscent of the dwarf forget-me-not, and is treasured by all who find it.

ILLUSTRATED GUIDES TO ALPINE FLORA

Two long-established and richly illustrated guides to mountain flowers that would aid identification are:

 Mountain Flowers in Colour by Anthony Huxley, with illustrations by Daphne Barry and Mary Grierson (Blandford Press, 1967)

 The Alpine Flowers of Britain and Europe by Christopher Grey-Wilson with colour illustrations by Marjorie Blamey (Collins, 1979)

Sporting large knobbly horns, a male ibex crops the short grass of an alp

The ubiquitous marmot, at home in almost every alpine valley

A small herd of chamois caught grazing at Busenalp (Photo: Linda Reynolds)