Geopark Biokovo-Imotski Lakes

Vegetation

 

Biokovo-Imotski Lakes vegetation cover is exceptionally diverse and interesting, with an evident mixture of different floral elements. The mountain's flora features a mixture of the oldest of Mediterranean, new Boreal and Central European floral elements. Biokovo might look barren at first sight, but in reality it has an abundance of plant and animal species. Aside from the interspersed beech, fir and Dalmatian pine forests, we also come across a large number of plant species, especially endemic ones such as the silvery dwarf harebell called the Biokovo Bell (Edraianthus pumilio), native types of knapweed called the Biokovo Knapweed (Centaurea biokovensis), the reddish knapweed (Centaurea cuspidata) and others. In this part of geopark there are many endangered plant species, such as the showy chickweed, the pyramidal orchid, the Resetnikia triquetra, the green-winged orchid, the Dalmatian bellflower, moltkia and others. There are over 1,500 plant species in the Nature Park Biokovo. The vegetation in the Imotski area of geopark is dominantly deciduous, with oak, hornbeam and ash being the most common types of trees. In the highest elevations there are also coniferous pine forests, while fir and spruce can also be found on Biokovo. Changes in ways of life have affected the vegetation as well. A hundred years ago there were only small patches of forest as most of the land was cultivated and sectioned out by kilometers of drystone walls erected by the hardworking locals. The forest has spread out in the meantime and today it covers all of these fields, paths and centuries-old drystone walls.