Galmeiveilchen

Viola lutea calaminaria

The Galmei plant at this site represents a unique worldwide plant community that is specifically adapted to ore-rich soils. It belongs to a glacial alpine relic flora, whose species were displaced during the glaciation of the last Ice Age from their original distribution areas into ice-free climatic zones, including the Stolberg area where they survived the Ice Age. After the end of the Ice Age, when vegetation became more lush, the species of the Galmei flora retreated to poorer, nutrient-deficient, and mineral-laden soils that were avoided by other, more vigorously growing plants.

A striking example of this flora is the Galmei violet, whose name is derived from the galmei-rich soil. Galmei is a collective term for a mineral mixture of various sulfur-free zinc ores, which was economically significant until the beginning of the 19th century as it was indispensable for brass production. The Galmei flora grows almost exclusively on former ore fields, whose surfaces sometimes exhibit high and toxic zinc, lead, and cadmium compounds.

Over the course of evolution, the Galmei flora has developed a remarkable tolerance to heavy metals. Thus, survival niches for heavy metal-resistant plant species, known as metallophytes, have established themselves in these extreme sites. The Galmei violet is found worldwide only in the Stolberg region and in the vicinity of Kelmis southwest of Aachen. It is optimally adapted to the hostile substrate and can accumulate and store heavy metals without suffering damage. For centuries, such plants served miners as natural indicators of zinc ore deposits. The Galmei violet is under strict nature conservation and may not be picked or uprooted.