DESCRIPTION

Herbaceous plant reaching 1 m in height. Basal leaves with long petioles divided into 5 deeply toothed segments; alternating stem leaves cut into 3 toothed segments and attached directly to the stem without petioles. Golden yellow flowers in the shape of a sphere 2 to 3 cm in diameter at the tip of the stem and in the armpits of the upper leaves.

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HISTORY

Its name comes from the ancient German Trol (globular) which recalls the shape of the flower. It was once called Alpine Ranunculus, because it is a kind of Buttercup.

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HABITAT

In all the Alps; meadows, lawns and pastures; wet and marshy soils; up to an altitude of about 2300 m.

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PARTICULARITIES

The curved floral envelopes protect the pollen from the rain, but do not prevent insects from entering the flower. The Troll of Europe has the particularity of being pollinated by a fly. Six species of the genus Chiastocheta are concerned by this mutualist interaction. Flies lay their eggs, which develop at the expense of the seeds, which are eaten by the larvae

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THREAT

This flower is protected, do not pick it ! Moreover, it is very toxic.

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