2014Flora - First Day Cover

Herzegovinian Mountains are a treasury of endemic plants. On the Red list of B&H Flora there are many, and amongst them are two plants which the Croatian Post Mostar presents in the “Flora 2014” edition, and in this ways points out on rare species of plants and their protection.
Cattani Lily or "vrtoglav“ (Lilium cattaniae) is an endemic plant of the Dinarids that settles on warm and dry areas of karstic territory, and its name came from the biologist Marija Cattani. It grows in lightened bushes and groves, in karsts sinkholes and karrens of the mountain Čvrsnica. Its height reaches up to 60 to 70 cm. It blossoms a dark crimson flower in the period in between June and July. It is not known whether the Cattani Lily has been used in traditional medical therapies, but taking into consideration experiences in medical treatments of other types of lilies, it could be a significant source for pharmaceutical researches in the future. Herzegovinian hellebore (Helleborus hercegovinus) is an endemic plant of the southeastern Dinarids that grows in the Mediterranean-Montana and sub Mediterranean region of the karsts territories on carbonates. It grows up to 30 cm in height, and blossoms from March to April. A cluster-like flower consists of a few flowers that can be white, green and even purple in color. Hellebore likes a damp ground rich with humus, and the Herzegovinian hellebore most successfully grows on neutral or alkali grounds in the shade.