seal (Polygonatum multiflorum), and sanicle (Sanicula europaea). The other common community in the montane zone is the hay meadow, which contains very rich flora. The meadows are predominated by grasses, such as tall oatgrass, cocksfoot, meadow foxtail, timothy grass, and bluegrass. The meadows also can contain species such as woodland geranium (Geranium sylvaticum), mountain buttercup (Ranunculus montanus), mountain clover (Trifolium montanum), great masterwort (Astrantia major), the columbine meadowrue (Thalictrum aquilegiifolium), Potentilla grandiflora, bearded bellflower (Campanula barbata), and poets' narcissus (Narcissus poeticus). At higher elevation, there are two plants whose leaves look alike: poisonous white hellebore (Veratrum album) and yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea). More arid meadows will contain rock rose, thyme, and mountain germander (Teucrium montanum). Very humid meadows will contain meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis), the whorled lousewort (Pedicularis verticillata) accompanied by moisture-loving grasses such as Poa nemoralis and Molinia caerulea. Subalpine zone This zone includes various biological communities: scree, meadows, forests, wetlands. Rocks and scree The most characteristic plants on siliceous rock are Asplenium septentrionale and Primula hirsuta. Siliceous scree is also favorable to Chondrosea cotyledon, Phyteuma scheuchzeri, and Erysimum cheiri. Limestone scree hosts species such as Rumex scutatus , often accompanied in the central and eastern Alps by two remarkable species: Petasites paradoxus and Adenostyles glabra. In the western Alps, the most characteristic plant of this community is Crepis pygmaea. Shady, damp scree is the preferred habitat of the green alder (Alnus alnobetula), which often forms inextricable thickets and helps stabilize the scree on steep slopes with its roots. Meadows In the subalpine zone, meadows or pastures are almost all of human origin. The plant species present in this environment vary according to exposure, the nature of the soil, and the humidity of the climate. In general, mowing favors plants with bulbs that flower very early in the spring (crocuses) or very late (colchicums). The pastures, subjected to even stronger pressures, favor the emergence of tough species that the animals neglect, such as matgrass. This is often accompanied by mountain arnica or wolf's bane. Wet places are the domain of the megaphorbs, characterized by tall plants (Adenostyles alliariae, Cicerbita alpina, Aconitum napellus, Thalictrum aquilegiifolium, Delphinium elatum, etc.). Finally, in places where livestock stay for a long time, the abundantly smoky soil is very rich in nitrogen and is suitable for species such as Rumex alpinus, Chenopodium bonus-henricus, and Cirsium spinosissimum. Forests The subalpine forests in the