The site
This is a section of roadside embankment, at the exit ramp of Saint-Julien-Montdenis and the RD1006, bordering a TELT spoil disposal site.
Key issues
A significant population of early tulip is present on this embankment, located just next to the Plan d’Arc spoil disposal site, whose extension was slightly modified in order to preserve these few thousand individuals of early tulip—the almost exclusive objective of the measure. However, prior to the arrival of TELT, a strong woody vegetation dynamic, notably involving clematis, a liana-forming species that can become quite invasive, threatened the long-term survival of the tulips in this location.
As a result, this section of the embankment was cleared and is now maintained on a regular, annual basis. This action, along with the subsequent maintenance, has helped revitalize the early tulip population, which is expanding and forms true carpets in late winter to early spring.
Partners
Savoie Departmental Council
Objectives
Implement management favorable to the maintenance of existing stations of protected plant species
Limit the development of invasive alien species
Monitor the evolution of plant species populations on the site
Discover…
The Early tulip. Like other tulip varieties, the Early tulip is native to Asia, and its presence in Europe is linked to its use as an ornamental plant in the 16th century, brought by the Turks, as well as to the various events associated with this introduction (bulbs lost during transport, or mistaken for other flowers such as saffron, etc.). Even today, this species still seems to maintain a particular relationship with international transport: beyond being the subject of considerable attention and conservation measures within the Lyon–Turin construction project, it is also widely found on the slopes of the Maurienne motorway and the main road leading to Italy. Its common name comes from the fact that it is among the first species to flower as soon as the snow melts: its characteristic red petals can be observed from late March onwards.