Megaphorbia

Every spring, this place is transformed into a miniature jungle. On the damp slopes, covered in snow until late in the season, the tall grasses grow exuberantly.

In this sun-deprived corridor, snow accumulates as early as December, fed by winter runoff. It persists much longer than in the surrounding areas, sometimes until April. This late snow cover maintains high humidity and enriches the soil with nutrients, thanks to runoff, leaf decomposition and nitrogen trapped in the snow.

From the beginning of summer, tall herbaceous plants with broad leaves reach towards the light. These champions of growth form a megaphorbiaie, a plant community typical of cool, humid areas rich in organic matter. The north-western slope of Moléson, which is more shaded, is home to vast expanses of this vegetation.

Avalanches and rockfalls prevent trees from establishing themselves permanently, leaving the field open to these pioneer plants. Once well established, they create such dense cover that it prevents the development of shrubs.