In addition to the presence of exotic species from the 4 corners of the globe, this extraordinary biodiversity can be explained by the presence of a great diversity of environments, but also by the fact that the river is at the crossroads of several biogeographical domains: Atlantic, Mediterranean and continental.
In the boires or oxbows, you’ll come across species that are sometimes aquatic and sometimes amphibious, such as pondweeds (Potamogeton natans…), umbelliferae (Butomus umbellatus) or cattails (Typha angustifolia and T. latifolia).
On the wet mud exposed in summer, low-growing or prostrate plants can be observed, with Micheli’s nutsedge (Cyperus michelianus), brown nutsedge (Cyperus fuscus) and limosella (Limosella aquatica) being the most noteworthy.
On coarse sandy shores, very sparse goosefoot vegetation (Chenopodium rubrum, Ch. ambrosoides, Ch. glaucum, Ch. botrys…) develops.
In the meadows, among the most emblematic species, we note the presence of the guinea fern (Fritillaria meleagris) or the loose-flowered orchid (Orchis laxiflora), spring jewels staining the meadows with garnet.
Finally, alluvial woodlands, or riparian forests, are dominated by ash trees: the tall ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and the narrow-leaved ash (F. angustifolia).
Sources: Mission Val de Loire: “Flore et végétation de la vallée de la Loire” (1982), Robert Corillion
