#mountain flora

• Acrophilous — Regarding plants or organisms; growing, developing, or living at high altitudes, in alpine or mountainous regions; alticolous. As a noun, it denotes an organism or individual oriented toward alpine heights.
• Alpine plant — A plant structurally and physiologically adapted to live and grow at high altitudes, within the upper alpine zone or on rocky mountain ridges, displaying specific dwarf or pubescent traits.
• Adenostyles glabra — A species of perennial herbaceous plant in the family Asteraceae, structurally related to alpine colt's-foot, remarkable for having completely smooth, hairless (glabrous) vegetative organs (stems and leaves); its cordate-reniform leaves feature prominent teeth, and the pink-violet flower heads are arranged in a loose terminal corymb. It is a plant specific to limestone mountain regions and screes in Central and Southern Europe.
• Rock bentgrass — A species of perennial herbaceous plants within the genus Agrostis, family Poaceae, native to the mountainous regions of Europe (including the Carpathian Mountains). This grass grows in low, dense tufts on stony substrates, cliffs, screes, and alpine meadows with shallow, acidic soils; it is highly resistant to frost, strong winds, and drought, playing a major ecological role in stabilizing high-altitude soils.
• Alnus incana — The scientific name of the grey alder (or speckled alder), a tree or shrub in the family Betulaceae, widespread across the cold and mountainous regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. Unlike its close relative, this species features matte leaves that are greyish on the underside and a smooth, light grey bark, being excellently adapted for rapidly colonizing degraded soils or mountain gravels.
• Anchusa barrelieri — A perennial species of herbaceous plant in the genus Anchusa, commonly known as Barrelier's bugloss. It is native to Southern and Eastern Europe, characterized by erect, stiff stems, branched at the top, and small, bright blue flowers with a yellow or white center, resembling forget-me-nots, arranged in dense inflorescences.
• Anthoxanthum — A genus of annual or perennial grasses in the family Poaceae, commonly known as vernal grass, notable for their dense spike-like panicles and a strong fragrance of coumarin released when dried.
• Aruncus — A genus of herbaceous perennial plants in the family Rosaceae, commonly known in wild and decorative flora by the popular name 'goat's beard'. The plant is characterized by large, compound leaves and spectacular inflorescences in the form of branched panicles, made up of numerous small, white or cream flowers, preferring shady mountain areas, damp forests, and stream banks.
• Aruncus vulgaris — A historical scientific name or taxonomic synonym used in the past for the species Aruncus dioicus, popularly known as 'goat's beard'. It is a robust, perennial, Eurasian and North American herbaceous plant that grows in shady mountain forests and forest edges, developing large clumps over one meter high, with large compound leaves and massive panicles of white flowers, either male or female, arranged on separate individuals (dioecious plant).
• Asperula gussonii — The scientific name of a dwarf perennial herbaceous plant in the family Rubiaceae, endemic to the high, rocky mountain zones of Sicily (especially the Madonie Massif); this rare species forms dense, xerophytic cushions structurally adapted to survival in alpine limestone screes, featuring prostrate stems, small opposite or whorled leaves, and tubular pink or white flowers.
• Athyrium alpestre — A specific species of fern in the Athyrium genus (synonymous with Athyrium distentifolium), commonly known as the alpine lady-fern. This plant grows at high altitudes, in rocky areas, damp screes, subalpine forests, and open ridges, adapted to harsh climate conditions and characterized by small, round sori often completely lacking an indusium.