Vegetation of the Strmec Forest Remnant

The virgin forest remnant Strmec is located in the southern part of Slovenia (Kočevsko region) and expands over 15.55 ha between 850 and 940 metres above sea level. Special attention is given to phytosociological and pedological surveys. A vegetation map was also made. The virgin forest is dominated by Dinaric fir-beech forests, namely by the geographical variant of the association Omphalodo-Fagetum var. geogr. Calamintha grandiflora with the following subassociations and variants: -festucetosum altissimae, -galietosum odorati, -typicum, -mercurialetosum perennis, -phyllitidetosum, -neckeretosum crispae, -caricetosum albae subass. nova var. Neckera crispa var. nova and var. Helleborus niger. var. nova.

The bedrock is mainly limestone and dolomite, which prevail in the south-western part of the virgin forest remnant. The most frequent soil types are rendzina on limestone, Rendzic Leptosol and Dystri-Chromic Cambisol.