Orchid is a plant, which belongs in a family of Orchidaeae. In Slovenia, three species grow: Kamnik orchid (lat. Nigritella lithopolitanica), Red orchid (lat. Nigritella rubra) and Black orchid (lat. Nigritella rhellicani). They thrive on stone areas and Alpine grasslands above forest line: Kamnik-Savinja Alps, Karavanke and Julian Alps. Orchids, which grow in lower parts, bloom at the end of May, on individual blooming specimens we encounter in the high mountains even in the end of August. Tiny flowers of orchid are united in dense inflorescences, with vanilla smell they resemble of kinship with tropical orchids. The smell of Black orchid can be detected also as a smell of chocolate.
Black orchid or Rhellikanov’s orchid (lat. N. nigra) has crimson flower and at full blossom circular inflorescences. It can be found in Julian Alps and Karavanke, also in Škofja loka hills, on the top of Blegoš and Ratitovec.
Kamnik orchid (lat. N. lithopolitanica) was as independent species for the first time described by Slovenian botanist Vlado Ravnik in year 1978. Its classical location is on Krvavec. Its extent is limited, as it only grows in Karavanke and Kamnik-Savinja Alps. It is the only endemite in family of Slovenian orchids. For this type of plant many color variations are known – from white and rare yellow to dark pink and orange. We can also see it on Velika planina, most often in June, when it adorns the greenery of mountain pasture. We recognize it by its, grass-like, leafs and purple-pink flower of the egg shape. Lower part of the flower is brighter, sometimes almost white.
Red orchid is located in Julian Alps and on Snežnik. It has distinctly cylindrical inflorescences and is red in color. Snežnik orchid is something special, because it differs slightly in color and structure from the one in Julian Alps.
Orchids are in Slovenia protected species from year 2002 and belongs among the first plants to be protected. Since year 2002, the orchids are on the red list of Pteriodophyta and seed plants among rare plants of our flora.
Velika planina
Velika planina is high mountain mountain pasture and one of the biggest tourist attractions, due to its natural and cultural heritage. It covers more than 500 typical shepherd’s huts, many pastures, forest, dwarf pine and Karst sinkholes. The highest peak of the mountain pasture is Gradišče [_Read more_]