Of specialists and rarities

Of specialists and rarities

Inconspicuous but special

The flora on the rocks of the Bruchhauser Steine may seem inconspicuous at first glance. Yet it holds some great treasures! Some of the plants are otherwise only native to the Alps and the Arctic climate zone, others only to the high mountains. Many of the plant species find optimal living conditions in the cool crevices as well as on the barren surface of the rocks.

Specialists among plants

The Bruchhauser Steine also provide a habitat for lichens and mosses. Some species are a sign that the air here is particularly good and clean. Lichens in particular are true survivors: they can cope with strong temperature fluctuations and can even withstand temperatures above 60 °C. Moreover, many of these inconspicuous lichens are several hundred years old. Unfortunately, they are also quite sensitive to trampling – which is another reason why climbing on the Bruchhauser Steine was banned a few years ago.

A young forest

The current-day forest around the Bruchhauser Steine, however, has not existed for very long – it only came into being in the last few centuries. Before this time, the landscape was mainly characterised by grasses, low plants and bushes.

Survivors from the last ice age

10,000 years ago, many plants disappeared from the Sauerland as a result of climate change, but some stood the test of time at the Bruchhauser Steine.

Alpine rockcress, as the name suggests, is particularly widespread in the Alps. It can be found on rocks, boulders and limestone. The occurrence of Alpine rockcress at the Bruchhauser Steine is the only one of its kind in NRW, and is listed there on the Red List as being threatened with extinction.
This little flower feels most at home in the Alps.

The round-leaved liverwort is very rare and a remnant of the last ice age. By the way, the Bruchhauser Steine are the only place in the whole of western Germany where it grows! It feels particularly at home on rocky ground.
This moss already existed in the Ice Age.

Fir clubmoss gets its name from its needle leaves which are reminiscent of a fir branch. It is related to mosses and lichens, occurs almost exclusively in mountains and thrives particularly well in sparse coniferous forests. The fir clubmoss is considered endangered in NRW.
There are not many specimens of this plant left.

Another inconspicuous presence is the dust lichen, which is a fungus. It feels at home on the rocks of the Bruchhauser Steine and can withstand high temperatures caused by sunlight.
This inconspicuous plant is a rock specialist.

Blytt’s kiaeria moss is a mountain plant that feels particularly at home here at the Bruchhauser Steine in cool, damp rock crevices.
This moss thrives in rock crevices.

The pale hawkweed is found in Europe, America and northern Asia. It had long been regarded as extinct in North Rhine Westphalia and was only rediscovered a few years ago at the Bruchhauser Steine.
Until recently, this flower had been extinct in NRW.