Mosaic of hay meadows and semi-arid uncultivated meadows

The situation of the Mérils meadows is similar to that of the mosaic of semi-dry to dry limestone meadows at station 3. Their diversity is enhanced here by the more or less wet soils of an exemplary torrential system. The development of plants typical of these meadows is limited by mowing, giving way to the flora of semi-dry hay meadows. Plots of land that have been abandoned for farming regain the characteristic vegetation of the sunny rocky slopes of the region. Meadows mown at this altitude and in these extreme conditions are the last vestiges of a time when a large part of the Mérils was mown with a scythe. Extensively managed mountain hay meadows are the typical habitat of the radiant-flowered narcissus, a plant typical of the western Pre-Alps. In spring, it blooms en masse, covering the slopes in a luminous white with an intoxicating fragrance. Some of the meadows that are no longer mown are grazed by sheep. This grazing causes a significant decline in the flora if it is too intensive or carried out inappropriately.

Scabious knapweed, or centaurea scabiosa as it is known in Latin, belongs to the Asteraceae family. There are two subspecies: common knapweed (scabiosa) and Alpine knapweed (alpestris). The latter is smaller (30 to 70 cm) and less branched than the common knapweed. Scabious knapweed is characteristic of meadows that are poor in fertilisers and mown late, which allows the seeds to mature. It is widespread in the limestone Alps.