(photo by: Enrico Vettorazzo)
Beyond the upper limit of the arboreal and shrubby vegetation there are prairies and high-mountain pastures, one of the most important naturalistic and landscape richness of the Park. The flora of these environments varies according to the water availability, the exposure to the sunlight, and the degree of exploitation they have suffered.
Among the several vegetal associations, the most typical one is the blue moor grass formation – characterized by Sesleria albicans and Carex sempervirens – particularly rich in species, among which the rare Trifolium noricum. In the most exploited pastures there are some of the most famous Alpine species such as Arnica, Nigritella, and Koch’s Gentian. Among the other features, the rare and localized summit vegetation characterized by the Silver Leaved Geranium must be mentioned for its particular botanical importance.
Near the mountain pastures it is possible to find typical associations of nitrophilous plants (docks, nettles, chenopods, and alchemilla).
Prairies and Alpine pastures are the ideal habitat of Marmots, Ermines, Alpine Hares, and several species of insects linked with Alpine flower blooms.
These areas are ideal hunting territories for birds of prey like Kestrels and Golden Eagles.