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Home , Alpine garden, Col du Lautaret

The Lautaret alpine botanic

At an altitude of 2100 m

Surface area 2 ha Number of species More than 2000 from the and the world’s major mountain areas Peak flowering period Between 1st July and 10th August Length of visit Guided visit (approximately 1h 30min) or stay as long as you desire

Permanent address : Address at the Lautaret pass : (from June to September) Station alpine Joseph Fourier Université 1 - Bât. D Jardin botanique alpin du Lautaret BP 53 - 38041 Grenoble cedex 9 Col du Lautaret - 05480 Villar d’Arène Tél : 04 76 51 49 00 - fax: 04 76 51 42 79 Tél/fax : 04 92 24 41 62

http://sajf.ujf-grenoble.fr/ [email protected] Why a garden at the Col du Lautaret ? Where do the in the garden come from ?

The site occupies an exceptional geographical location. The garden is part of an international seed exchange network: At the crossroads of the northern and southern Alps, and and has links with almost 300 located in more than the internal and external Alps, the diversity of climatic 50 countries. Seeds are collected in the Lautaret region and influences and geological landforms has generated an from the garden: with in total, more than 1800 species present extraordinarily high natural botanical diversity, with almost on the list, known as the “Index seminum”, which is sent to 1500 species present, corresponding to 1/3 of the other gardens and allows for the exchange of seeds. These French flora. At the gates of the Ecrins National Park, the exchanges also involve scientists who are studying particular Index seminum Col du Lautaret is also perfectly located at a tourism groups of plants. Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret crossroads providing easy access to a high mountain Botanical expeditions, in particular to the mountain regions (Hautes-Alpes, France) environment (2000 m). of the Southern Hemisphere, also allow new species to be collected for the garden. The seeds are germinated at low altitude (in collaboration with the nursery owners Joseph Sarreil-Baron and Jean-Louis When was the garden created ? Latil). The young plants are subsequently transferred to the experimental zone of the alpine garden (nursery), and then In 1899 the Grenoble scientific university created the first Lautaret alpine garden with the assistance the most vigorous individuals are planted in the garden’s of M. Bonnabel, who owned a hotel at the Col. Initially located at the Col itself; it was moved in 1919 beds. The plants originate from the world’s various mountain regions to make way for the construction of the new road to the . Through support from the Maihuenia patagonica (Phil.) Britton & Rose (Santa Cruz, Patagonia, Argentina) “Touring Club de France” a chalet was constructed on the present site, and the director, Professor and so tend to be well adapted to difficult climatic conditions. Marcel Mirande, was able to move the collections and organise the new garden. The railway company However, the conditions at Lautaret are not always similar to those of plants’ regions of origin and some species do not n°55 PLM, which owned a hotel-restaurant nearby, also helped in the establishment of the new garden (the Année 2009, Récolte 2008 ruins of this building, burnt down in 1944, are visible near the garden’s entrance). manage to survive in the garden, despite the best efforts of the garden staff.

What are alpine plants and the alpine altitudinal belt ? The mountains vegetation is divided into altitudinal belts each growing North South characteristic vegetation types. The upper limit of the subalpine belt is marked by the natural limit (without J-Paul Lachmann, professor The “new” Lautaret alpine garden at the beginning of the 1920’s, after its transfer to the current site. “ubac” “adret” at the University of Grenoble Note the still existing Mirande chalet, and in the background the hotel-restaurant PLM which is today in human intervention) of forests. In the and creator of the alpine ruins (Archives of the Lautaret alpine botanic garden) (north facing slope) (south facing slope) Alps this is situated at an altitude of garden in 1899 NIVAL belt around 2300 m. Above this, we enter into mosses and lichens 3000 m the alpine belt where growth conditions 2900 m become more and more difficult What are the missions of the garden ? ALPINE belt as we go higher due to decreasing alpine grasslands average temperatures, increasing solar 2400 m radiation, and increasing wind speeds, Since its creation, the garden has aimed to accomplish 2200 m etc. The subalpine/alpine limit is largely the three missions of a : SUBALPINE belt determined by cold temperatures, and is increasing in altitude due to global - the presentation of the diversity of plants, in this case conifer forests 1700 m those of the world’s mountains; warming, endangering numerous 1500 m alpine plants. - public education regarding the conservation of An alpine plant refers to a species threatened plants and their habitats; MOUNTAIN belt which grows in the alpine belt, in the mixed forests - participation in research concerning alpine plants 1100 m Alps or in any other mountainous re- and the ecosystems which they inhabit. At the Chalet- 900 m gion. In everyday language the term laboratory, which adjoins the garden, scientists from corresponds to a mountain plant or a France and around the world study the adaptations FOOTHILLS belt plant from the Alps. An example of the research mission : the broadleaf forests of plants to extreme environments, and the effects of experimental zone where plants are cultivated in changes in climate and agricultural practices. semi-controlled conditions (pots) Tufa deposit Lautaret (redevelopment in progress) The Lautaret alpine protected zone Natura 2000 botanic garden Scott’s monument (no entry) Geological interpretive Tufa deposit interpretive sign sign (Galibier) (in progress) Experimental zone

(no entry) 36 38 34 39 37 Kiosk 28 30 35 N 22 28 22 33 40 23 30 28 41 22 25 31 41 E 24 28 41 25 32 O 21 46 46 Copse 45 42 18 43 44 S 16 47 18 21 16 chalet 42 18 26 15 Mirande 49 16 48 Chalet- 18 laboratory 14 29 53 17 Exhibition 53 14 53 27 51 53 14 17 Grassland Lake 12 12 Grassland 51 53 13 13 12 12 51 13 53 12 9 51 51 51 53 9 54 53 weather 51 station Viewpoint 51 54 10 Grassland 8 51 54 54 10 7 Grassland Geological interpretive sign () 3 54 Entrance 11 9 5 3 Porch 10 10 10 2 Explanatory signs for garden beds 5 10 6 1 Dotted areas : areas being developed 11 5 4 10 5 1 Alpine thistles 10 Caucasus 21 Apennines 5 5

2 Atlas mountains (in progress) 11 Middle-east 22 Arctic 3 Remarkable plants 12 Central Asia and China 23 Grasses 4 Spanish mountains 13 Japan 24 Fir forest 34 Stipa steppe 5 Pyrenees 14 Himalaya and Tibet 25 Corsica 29 Tufa wall (in progress) 35 Yellow daisies 39 Alchemilla and Potentilla 44 Willows 49 Trisetum grassland 6 Massif Central 15 Southern hemisphere mts 26 Bench for delicate 30 Alpine scree slopes 36 Scots pine forest 40 Festuca grassland 45 Mountain pine forest 51 North America plants (in progress) (Pinus sylvestris) 7 Swiss pine forest (Pinus cembra) 16 Eastern Alps 31 “Mégaphorbiaie” 41 Food plants 46 Plants of rocky areas 53 Botanical school (in progress) 8 Alpine Sea Holly 17 Carpathians 27 Caryophyllaceae 32 Marsh 37 Alpine grasslands 42 Medicinal/toxic plants 47 Subalpine scree slopes 9 Siberia 18 Balkan peninsula 28 Southern Alps 33 Peat bog 38 Snow bed 43 Rhododendron moorland 48 Queyras 54 Andes & Patagonia How is the garden managed ? How are the plants organised in the garden ?

Since its inception, the garden has been managed by the Joseph Fourier University (Grenoble 1). With the Lautaret chalet- 1 2 3 laboratory (situated next to the garden) and the Robert Ruffier- Lanche arboretum (situated on the Grenoble campus) this ensemble constitutes the Joseph Fourier alpine station (UMS 2925), belonging both to the university and the CNRS. The staff working at the garden are in part recruited for seasonally (technicians and voluntary horticultural students, entrance staff, voluntary university students carrying out the guided visits). The permanent personnel are made up of university lecturers and horticultural technicians from the university and CNRS. The The Robert Ruffier-Lanche arboretum is winter is devoted to the sorting and exchange of seeds, the named for the chief horticulturalist of the The gardens’ collection comprises of more than 200 species presented in themed garden beds (see writing of scientific and public educational publications, the Lautaret alpine garden who created it in the plan p. 4-5). A new system of signs made of glazed stoneware (fig. 1) describe the plants in the maintenance of the arboretum and teaching activities 1966 different garden beds in terms of: - their geographical origin (the different mountain areas of the globe), for example the Alps, the Apennines, the Caucasus, the Himalayas, the Andes and Patagonia, the Siberian plains, the arctic What is the meaning of the terms used in the regions. medicinal / toxic plants garden bed ? - their environment (in the case of the alpine flora, presented in the upper part of the garden) : grasslands, scree slopes, wetlands (fig. 2), boulders, etc. - their properties : medicinal plants (fig. 3) and/or toxic plants, food plants. Analgesic (analgésique): pain killing promoting expulsion of respiratory Antianemic (antianémique): helping tract secretions - their taxonomy: Caryophyllaceae, Potentilla, etc. boost red blood cells back to their Féebrifuge (fébrifuge): reducing normal level (via vitamins and iron) fever Antimitotic (antimitotique): inhibiting Galactagogue (galactagogue): cell division stimulating milk secretion How is the garden maintained ? Antiseptic (antiseptique): protecting Hemostatic (haemostatique): from infections by killing bacteria promoting blood clotting Antispasmodic (antispasmodique): Hypnotic (hypnotique): promoting inhibiting involuntary muscle sleep Once the plants have been planted in the garden contractions Hypotensive (hypotenseur): beds, the work of maintenance has only begun. Aperitif (apéritif): containing bitter reducing blood pressure ingredients that stimulate Colonisation by local plants occurs constantly, and Arnica montana L. Laxative (laxatif): loosening the appetite and aid digestion bowels the chief horticulturist and his team of staff and Parts used : dried leaves, flowers and roots Astringent: causing contraction or Narcotic (narcotique): inducing volunteers must meticulously weed the garden Properties (external application only): compression of tissues, thus reducing stupor or insensibility beds to eliminate weeds and reduce competition assists normal healing processes, astringent, mucosal secretions and promoting Purgative (purgatif): strongly laxative with the planted species. In addition, the strong sudorific healing Resolutive (résolutif): reducing sunlight and dry air at high altitude during summer Cardiotonic (cardiotonique): congestion and inflammation of mean that multiple daily waterings are required slowing, strengthening and tissue regulating heart beat for plants coming from areas more humid than Revulsive (révulsif): inducing Carminative (carminatif): stimulating artificial irritation of skin and mucous Lautaret. flatulence membranes Depurative (dépuratif): diuretic, Sedative (sédatif): soothing pain laxative and sudorific, thus and regulating nervous activity eliminating waste and purifying How do the plants survive the winter ? Sternutatory (sternutatoire): inducing blood sneezing Detersive (détersif): cleaning Sudorific (sudorifique): promoting wounds and ulcers sweating All of the plants remain on site. They are Digestive (digestif): helping digestion Teratogenous (tératogène): by stimulating the stomach insulated from the winter cold by snow cover, inducing fetal malformation Diuretic (diurétique): promoting of which can be several meters deep. It is during Vermifuge (vermifuge): inducing urination cold winters with little snow cover that the expulsion of intestinal worms Emetic (emétique): causing vomiting Aconitum napellus L. Vesicant (vésicant): causing irritation plants find themselves subject to very harsh Emmenagoge (emménagogue): of skin and mucous conditions. For example, some plants did not Europe’s most toxic plant promoting menstruation membranes with formation of blisters survive the winter of 2001-02, characterised Properties : analgesic, Emollient (emollient): smoothing Vulnerary (vulnéraire): promoting by many weeks of temperatures below -25°C hypotensive, cardiac inflamed tissue and respiratory paralysis wounds healing Expectorant (expectorant): coupled with very little snow : these plants froze due to a lack of protection. Some recent developments at the Botanical Garden ?

- An internet image bank (www.flickr.com/photos /stationalpinejosephfourier/) : already containing some 14.000 images, illustrates the plants cultivated in the garden, plants growing in situ in the Alps and in other mountainous regions of the world, research being carried out at Lautaret, etc. - An artists in residence programme dedicated to botanical illustration associated with the establishment of a public collection of drawings showing the importance of quality documentary botanical drawing, conjugating art and science. The first triennial catalogue was published in 2009 and is available at the garden entrance (fig. 1, drawings by Juan Luis Castillo and Philippe Danton) 1 2 3

- On-going new developments (scree slopes in the “Apennines” garden bed, tufa wall for growing plants from rocky areas - fig. 2 - , the “Andes and Patagonia” garden bed, etc.) and projected developments (reorganisation of the environmental zones presenting the flora of the Alps and extension of the areas that are wheelchair accessible) - A botanical school is in the process of being developed, in the form of garden beds illustrating themes such as the adaptations of alpine plants, their reproduction, their origin, their classification, etc. - The redevelopment of the Lautaret high altitude arboretum (fig. 3). Situated just above the garden, it was planted in 1974 by CEMAGREF and ONF to assess the growth characteristics of conifers near the upper limit of tree growth. The arboretum is being rehabilitated both for scientific reasons (studies of the long-term effects of global warming) and educational reasons (the development of an interpretive pathway) - A project for a Flora of Lautaret. This illustrated publication will present the 1500 species of the Lautaret region (cantons of La Grave and Monêtier-les-Bains) - A phenology project will analyse the effects of global warming on plant life cycle stages such as flower and fruit production. 10 alpine species will be grown in various arctic and alpine gardens in order to make comparisions between different regions - Participation in the project Phyloalp which is sampling and genetically analysing the entirety of the alpine flora (more than 3000 species)

A major project : the Galerie de l’Alpe

Today’s ecological challenges have reinforced the need for field- based research to complement studies in controlled environments. Over more than a century, the Lautaret alpine botanical garden has built a solid reputation in the area of alpine biology and has developed a synergy between science and tourism. However today, the garden lacks the space and infrastructure required to host all of these activities and their expected future development. This project aims to construct a new building for research, teaching and public education on the site of the ruin of the old PLM hotel (left, in its heyday in 1935).

Conception and realisation: S Aubert & Ph Danton (3rd edition - 2010) - Photos: S Aubert and the archives of the Lautaret alpine botanical garden Translation : Karl Grigulis - Publication : Joseph Fourier alpine station. Thanks to R Bligny,R Douzet, Ch Perrier, M Robson