Pagina 56 - Juliana_Book_eng

56
Hladnikia pastinacifolia Rchb. – Hladnikia
In 1819, the botanist Franc Hladnik found a plant of an unknown genus from
the family Umbelliferae on Mt Čaven, on the edge of Trnovski gozd. Later on,
it was described and named Hladnikia after its finder.
At first sight, Hladnikia looks as nothing special – at least the first time we see
it knowing nothing about it.
It grows in rocky grasslands and on rocks in Trnovski gozd on Čaven, Kucelj,
Zeleni rob and Poldanovec. Its general distribution is small with a very limited
range.
Hladnikia is the only species of a monotypic genus and represents an old relict
of the pre-glacial flora.
It is the only endemic genus of the Slovenian flora, so that the university
botanist professor Tone Wraber described it as “one of the noblest plants of our flora”.
Horminum pyrenaicum L. – Dragonmouth
In August, the dragonmouth starts blossoming in the Bohinj mountains. The
deep, warm blue-violet colour of its flowers is a true contrast to the dark green
leaves.
In Slovenia, the dragonmouth has a scattered distribution limited to areas with
calcareous substrates, in rocky grasslands and pastures of the subalpine ald
alpine belts of the Bohinj part of the Julian Alps.
The general distribution extends to the Alps and the Pyrenees, mostly in the
outer mountain chains close to the Mediterranean. The genus has a single
species only (monotypic genus). Its general distribution, as well as the fact that
the genus has one species only, indicate that it belongs to a relict element of the
Alpine Tertiary vegetation.
Inula ensifolia L. – Sword-leaved Inula
This is a up to 60 cm tall perennial plant with turgid leaves, which are linear to
linear lanceolate, narrower at the bottom and, rarely, woolly hairy along the
margins. The golden yellow ligulate and tubular flowers are grouped in heads.
The swordleaf inula can be found in calcareous rocky terrains, on sunny rocky
slopes, and in Karst mown meadows, from the lowlands to the montane belt. In
the Alps it can be found in the Julian Alps and in the Dinaric, prealpine and
predinaric regions (Kolpa Valley, Gorjanci Mts, Zasavje) and most commonly
in the submediterranean region. The general distribution extends to Austria,
Italy, Hungary, Russia, the northern Balkans and Caucasus.
Inula hirta L. – Downy Elecampane
This plant is a 10 to 50 cm tall perennial with hairy stemsand leaves. The
golden yellow flowers are gathered in heads.
It grows on sunny grassy and rocky slopes, in rocky terrain, and in open
forests, from the lowlands to the montane belt in the whole of Slovenia, but it
is commonest in the Karst region. The general distribution extends in western,
central, southern and eastern Europe as well as in the Caucasus and Siberia.
Inula spiraeifolia L. – Spiraea-leaved Inula
This plant is a 30 to 80 cm tall perennial with a richly leafy stem. The stem leaves are sessile, with a roounded base.
The head contains many small, golden yellow flowers.
In Slovenia this species can be found on bushy, rocky slopes and in cultivated land from the lowlands to the montane