Globeflower

About

Globeflower is a decoration of wet Carpathian meadows in late spring and early summer. It grows in damp hayfields, forest clearings, along streams, and on polonynas, ascending from the foothills to the subalpine zone. In the high mountains, globeflower blooms later than in the valleys.

The plant is 30–70 cm tall with a straight, sparsely branched stem at the top. The leaves are palmately divided, with deeply cut lobes, resembling a paw print — hence the folk name 'wolf's paw'. The flowers are large, up to 3–5 cm, lemon or golden-yellow, globular: numerous petal-like sepals are tightly closed, so the flower almost never fully opens. Only small insects can enter to pollinate the plant.

Globeflower blooms from May to July. Like many plants in the buttercup family, it is poisonous: the fresh sap irritates the skin and mucous membranes. Bouquets of globeflower should not be collected with children.

Globeflower is not listed in the current Red Book of Ukraine, but it is highly dependent on wet meadows that are mowed. When hayfields are plowed, drained, or overgrown, the plant disappears. It is best to photograph it without picking: this way it will return to the same meadows every year.

Where in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries

Slovakia · Romania · Ukraine · Poland · Hungary · Czechia

Mountain ranges

Greater Fatra, Strážov Mountains, Slovak Paradise, Low Tatras, Slovak Central Mountains, High Tatras, Lesser Fatra, Belianske Tatras, Kremnica Mountains, Choč Mountains

Altitude belts

Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m) · Conifer forests (1200–1600 m)

When to see it

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Safety

The plant is poisonous; the fresh sap irritates the skin and mucous membranes. In case of suspected poisoning, call 103 (or 112).

Protection and rules

Not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. Do not pick: the plant depends on wet meadows that are mowed.

FAQ