To illustrate the diversity of the grassland, different origins or varieties of a species or family are planted on the plots.
1 - Orchard grass
2 - Timothy (Timothy grass)
3 - Red clover
4 - Bird's-foot trefoil
5 - Catchfly
6 - Yarrow
7 - Carnations
8 - Sage
9 - Scabious
Plot 1 + 2
Orchardgrass and timothy are important, high-yielding grass species in grassland management. On plots 1 and 2 in the demonstration garden, the two grasses can be seen side by side; a clear distinguishing feature is the youngest leaf. In orchardgrass, it is flat and folded, while in timothy, it emerges distinctly rolled. The two grasses can also be easily distinguished by their inflorescences: orchardgrass has thick, tufted inflorescences, while timothy has a pencil-thick false spike.
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| Orchardgrass flower | Timothy grass flower |
Fig. : The two grasses can be easily distinguished by their inflorescences; orchard grass has thick clusters as inflorescences, while timothy grass has a false spike.
Plot 3
Plot 3 contains the red clover varieties Semperina, Gumpensteiner Rotklee, and Tedi. They require some time to form a dense stand, but are then high-yielding and sufficiently resistant to cutting. Red clover serves as an important protein source for cattle, which can efficiently utilize grassland.
Plot 4
Bird's-foot trefoil, with its richly flowering cushions, is of great importance to bees and other beneficial insects. It can be found in meadows, along roadsides, and even at higher elevations. The three varieties Marianne, Rocco, and Odenwälder, as well as an experimental collection from Carinthia, are growing in experimental plot 4.
Horn clover
Plot 5
Catchfly species such as inflated catchfly, rubble catchfly, red campion, and nodding catchfly enrich the environment and can be found in various habitats and altitudes. Butterflies and their caterpillars readily use the plants as a food source.
Silene nutans (catchfly)
plot 6
Yarrow contributes to the herbaceous aroma of meadow fodder and hay, and is also used as a medicinal plant. Its composite flowers are very attractive to insects, and it blooms in shades ranging from brilliant white to pale pink. The species in plot 6 are perennial and also spread via their extensive root systems.
yarrow
plot 7
Carnations captivate with their diverse flower shapes and often with vibrant pink hues or fringed petals. The feather pink, the Carthusian pink, and the clustered pink also thrive in sandy, nutrient-poor soils. Their nectar is only accessible to long-tongued insects. The meadow pink is among the most endangered species in Austria and boasts striking flowers.
Carnation
Plot 8
Meadow sage and common sage have many vibrant purple, two-lipped flowers and are very popular with bees. They grow steadily in the flowering areas around the Gumpenstein buildings and on the gravel lawn. Sticky sage has yellow flowers and traps tiny insects with sticky droplets.
Meadow sage
plot 9
Scabious plants have a long flowering period and prefer calcareous, well-drained soils such as embankments. They are very attractive to bumblebees, butterflies, and honeybees, and enhance any extensive meadow or wildflower strip mix. The dove scabious has a spherical flower head, while the yellow scabious and the shining scabious have a flat flower head.
Scabiosa
The seed collections of the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein make a valuable contribution to the preservation of biodiversity. The storage facility serves as a gene reservoir and for seed propagation for species-rich seed mixtures.
