Abstract

Galten, L. 2001. Ulvåberget – en beskjeden oase i den østerdalske sandsteinørkenen. Blyttia 59: 170-176.
Ulvåberget – an oasis within the sandstone «desert» of the Østerdal region.

Ulvåberget is a little mountain ridge east of the river Femundselva in Elvdalen, 15 km south of Femunden in Engerdal. The geology east of the Femunden watercourse is dominated by the Kvitvola nappa, which contains light sparagmites with layers of dolomite and limestone conglomerates resting upon fossiliferous Ordovician sediments. Especially on cliffs and steep hillsides the dark Kvitvola limestone appears as irregular spots, creating a flora surprisingly rich in species. In the westerly exposed rocky wall «Skjæran» species that demand light exposition, alpine species and species from the middle boreale zone meet, forming a «south-facing rocky wall species group». Table 1 summarises a survey of the 23 most interesting species arranged in three floristic elements. The vegetation may be classified as subtypes of rock fissure, rock wall and scree vegetation as well. The regional distribution of seven species is discussed, see table 2. For the five alpine species Festuca vivipara, Saxifraga aizoides, S. cespitosa, S. cotyledon and S. nivalis Ulvåberget represents an easterly outpost in the upper boreal zone. As regards Festuca vivipara and Saxifraga cotyledon a unusually humid climate makes it possible for them to grow here. Goodyera repens and Platanthera bifolia, actually easterly distributed species with a slight southerly tendency, are slightly thermophilous. Their growth is most likely restricted by the length of the vegetation period, thus Ulvåberget represents an altitudinal outpost.

Leif Galten, Frøsetåsen 3B, 7290 Støren (lpgalten@online.no)

Blyttia 59 (4)
Blyttias hjemmeside
Lagt ut 05.01.2002 JW