Deciduous forests

Did you know...

Oak grows slowly, but it can live for several centuries. There are two most common oak species in continental Croatia: common oak and sessile oak. Its fruit (the 'acorn') is food for squirrels, dormice and roe deer.

Beech is our most widely spread forest tree, and it can reach to over 250 years of age. The fruits are called 'beechnuts', are edible and important food for many animals.

Hornbeam grows slowly and rarely reaches more than 100 years of age. Hornbeam timber is especially resilient and strong.

Maples are species often mentioned in folk poems and poetry. There are many different maple species in the world, which can be identified by the shape of their leaves. Some species can reach more than 300 years of age.

Alder was used as a building material for the foundations of some buildings in Venice. Notably, its wood is waterproof, so it was used to build water dams, ships and water pipes. It is called 'jalša' in Zagorje.

DECIDUOUS FOREST

The forest is a biological community where woody species of trees and bushes prevail. They give the forest its fundamental characteristic and they also determine the species of other plants and animals that live here. A forest is considered to be a perfect ecological factory, but it is also an ideal habitat for rich plant and animal life. Forests vary according to the climate, soil type and relief.

A large share of the continental section of the Earth belongs to the area of moderate climate, which means that in these areas it is neither too cold nor too hot, therefore there is enough humidity during the whole year. These conditions are suitable for the development of deciduous (broadleaf) forest, which is the most common forest in Europe. The appearance of deciduous forests is constantly changing – from a gentle green colour in spring, a luxuriant and green forest in summer, to yellow-brown-reddish colours in autumn. In the winter, the deciduous forest is bare, and only then can you see the true shape of branches and the crown as a whole.

Today, forests cover a third of the continental area of Croatia, most of which are deciduous or broadleaf forests. Forests constitute the majority of vegetation cover in the Trakošćan Park Forest. Among deciduous forests, the most dominant are the forest of sessile oak with woodrushes and beech forest with white woodrush. Near the stream valleys and the lake, you can find smaller oases of the forest of black alder with quaking grass sedge. Go and discover them!

DECIDUOUS FOREST

The forest is a biological community where woody species of trees and bushes prevail. They give the forest its fundamental characteristic and they also determine the species of other plants and animals that live here. A forest is considered to be a perfect ecological factory, but it is also an ideal habitat for rich plant and animal life. Forests vary according to the climate, soil type and relief.

A large share of the continental section of the Earth belongs to the area of moderate climate, which means that in these areas it is neither too cold nor too hot, therefore there is enough humidity during the whole year. These conditions are suitable for the development of deciduous (broadleaf) forest, which is the most common forest in Europe. The appearance of deciduous forests is constantly changing – from a gentle green colour in spring, a luxuriant and green forest in summer, to yellow-brown-reddish colours in autumn. In the winter, the deciduous forest is bare, and only then can you see the true shape of branches and the crown as a whole.

Today, forests cover a third of the continental area of Croatia, most of which are deciduous or broadleaf forests. Forests constitute the majority of vegetation cover in the Trakošćan Park Forest. Among deciduous forests, the most dominant are the forest of sessile oak with woodrushes and beech forest with white woodrush. Near the stream valleys and the lake, you can find smaller oases of the forest of black alder with quaking grass sedge. Go and discover them!

Forest of sessile oak with woodrushes

(As. Luzulo luzuloidi-Quercetum)

It grows on siliceous substrates of steep hill-sides on the mountains in Northwest Croatia, at a height of 300 to 700 metres above sea-level. In this area, it grows on the southern hill-sides which descent towards the lake, and on the ridges of small hills. It is marked by continental characteristics and is rather poor in species.

Besides the Sessile Oak (Qeurcus petraea) and the White and Hairy Woodrush (Luzula luzuloides and L. pilosa), here you may also find the Common Juniper (Juniperus communis), the Heather (Calluna vulgaris), the Dyer's Broom (Genista tinctoria), the Mouse-ear Hawkweed (Hieracium pilosella) and the Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus).

Beech forest with white woodrush

(As. Luzulo-Fagetum)

We find it on the mountains of Northwest Croatia, mainly on Macelj. It grows on siliceous substrates of steep, mostly northern hill-sides, at a height of 250 to 800 metres above sea-level. It is well nurtured and it recovers nicely, therefore it is not endangered. The community is poor in species.

Apart from the Beech (Fagus sylvatica) and the White Woodrush (Luzula luzuloides) we can find here the Heather (Calluna vulgaris), the Dyer's Broom (Genista tinctoria), the Mouse-ear Hawkweed (Hieracium pilosella) and the Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). Also, there are rather few orchid species called the Lesser Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera bifolia) and the Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanthera longifolia).

Forest of black alder with quaking grass sedge

(As. Carici brizoidis-Alnetum glutinosae)

This forest community is fragmentary developed on wet areas around the lake, primarily along the Čemernica stream and its affluents. It is developed on humus and swamp soils in shallow depressions where the water stagnates for a long time after the flood. This community is significant for the preservation of habitat diversity, and the plant and animal life connected to it.

Besides the Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa) and the Quaking Grass Sedge (Carex brizoides), you may also find the Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris), the Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus), the Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticus), and recently, a very rare fern has been discovered, the Ostrich Fern (Matteucia struthiopteris).