Scorzonera rosea

About

Scorzonera rosea is one of the most beautiful flowers of the mountain meadows of the Eastern Carpathians. This plant is found in the mountains of southeastern Europe: besides the Carpathians, it is also known in the Balkans, where some botanists consider it a subspecies of Scorzonera purpurea. In the Ukrainian Carpathians, Scorzonera rosea occurs in mountain meadows and polonynas, as well as in the high mountain meadows of Chornohora, particularly in the area of Mount Pip Ivan, where it is considered one of the characteristic plants of local communities. Observations have also been made in the meadows of the middle mountains, approximately from 1000 m.

The plant is perennial, about 40 cm tall. The basal leaves are linear or lanceolate, sessile, often nearly the same length as the stem, so the rosette resembles a tuft of grass. The stem leaves are significantly shorter. At the top of the stem is a basket of ligulate flowers, pink or purple-pink, which extend nearly twice beyond the involucre. It is mostly photographed in bloom in June - July, rarely in August.

Scorzonera rosea can easily be confused with other pink aster-like flowers, but it is distinguished by the combination of narrow grass-like leaves and solitary pink baskets on almost leafless stems. Pilosella aurantiaca has orange baskets, grouped in clusters, and broad leaves covered with dark hairs.

Scorzonera rosea is not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. Its pink baskets are a decoration of summer polonynas, so simply admire it along the route: picking plants in reserves and national parks is prohibited.

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

Ukraine · Romania · Poland · Slovakia · Hungary

Mountain ranges

Krasna Polonyna, Skole Beskids, Borzhava, Pokuttia-Bukovina Carpathians, Chornohora, Bieszczady, Gorgany, Rivna Polonyna, Svydovets, Hryniava 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.

Look-alikes — how to tell them apart

Protection and rules

Not protected. Picking plants in reserves and protected areas of national parks is prohibited.

FAQ