General on flora of «Nature Park Medvednica»

When familiarizing oneself with the plant life that surrounds us we talk about plant species. All plant species of a certain area form flora of that area and all plant communities of certain area form vegetation.

Flora is divided in two groups: higher flora which consists of ferns and seed plants, and lower flora which consists of algae and moss.

Although the plant cover of Medvednica is mostly represented with forests (63.6%), and it may seem there is not a large number of different species, floral research which Nature Park Medvednica ordered (Nikolić T. et al.: Vascular flora of Nature Park Medvednica, Croatian botanic society, 2003 – the document is located in Public institution Nature Park Medvednica, in case of special request we can submit it for consideration ), a total of 1346 species of seed plants were recorded. This number shows that Medvednica's flora is very rich in comparison to Croatia (a total of about 4300 species of seed plants) or some other European countries (for example, about 1600 species in Great Britain).

In Nature Park Medvednica we found 20 species protected by law, 14 endemic and 93 endangered plant species, among which many are rare species. Endangered plant species are included in «Red book of plant species in Croatia ».

On Medvednica appear, although very rarely and in small compositions, Mediterranean ( Venus-hair Fern , Common bladder senna , Autumn Moor grass), Alpine (Alpine auricula) and steppe (Dwarf sedge) floral elements. A large part of species belong to middle European floral element, for example Sesleria tenuifolia Schrad. ssp. kalnikensis , endemic species of Medvednica, which grows in beech and oak forests on the rocks below Rog.


Venus-hair FernCommon bladder senna



Alpine auriculaSesleria tenuifolia Schrad. ssp. kalnikensis

In forest communities on Medvednica (12 in total), next to corresponding species of trees and shrubs, many ground species are present. Particular forest decorations are spring flowers. Although it seems spring flowers are abundantly distributed, those plants are endangered, and some taxa are protected by law. By excessive collection some taxa can completely vanish on a certain location, therefore we ask visitors to paint, take snap shots, draw, etc. these flowers instead of pick them.
Spring flowers are saffron, snowdrop, snowflake, primrose, Christmas rose, dog-tooth violet, cyclamen, and other species that flower in the spring.


Saffron Snowdrop



SnowflakePrimroseChristmas rose

Dog-tooth violet Cyclamen

On Medvednica we find three trees which are protected by Law on nature protection, as monuments of nature – single tree. Those are Gubec's lime (Tilia platyphyllos Scop.) in Donja Stubica, old yew (Taxus baccata L.) at Šupljak, and old yew near Horvat's steps.


Gubec's lime in Donja Stubica Old yew near Horvat's steps

FORESTS OF MEDVEDNICA
PROTECTED, ENDANGERED AND ENDEMIC PLANT SPECIES ON MEDVEDNICA