TREE GIANTS: ČRMOŠNJICE FIR TREE
Rastlinstvo in živalstvo, Pohodne poti, Naravne znamenitosti
Kočevski rog, 8350 Dolenjske Toplice
Črmošnjice fir tree is the thickest fir tree (Abies alba Mill.) in Slovenia and at the same time the mightiest tree giant of Kočevski rog. The lower part of the trees trunk is substantial and its canopy starts at the hight of 15 meters. Despite its age it remains strong and vital, but its yearly appositional as well as interstitial growth are slowing down. It grows on a shallow karst ground near the old Rog sawmill railway tracks.
Črmošnjice fir tree grows deep in Kočevski rog, but since it is very close to the road, it is nevertheless easily accessible. The easiest way to get to it is to go from the direction of Kočevje to Žaga Rog sawmill, where at the crossroads on the meadow, turn right towards Mirna gora. We drive along the narrow macadam road for a few kilometers until we reach a small clearing with a wooden sign "Črmošnjiška jelka" next to a thick beech tree. We park here. The fir tree is a few tens of meters in the forest on the right along the route of the former forest railway. We can see it from the road. A few meters further along the road, there are two thick fir trees right next to the road, which are also interesting, although not as striking. A visit to the Črmošnjice fir tree can be combined with a visit to the Rajhenav fir tree, which is a few kilometers away.
The fir tree is a key primary species of Dinaric fir-beech woods in this area.
The measurements:
Circumference: 6,02 meters
Hight: 45,5 meters
Wood volume: 42 cubic meters
Diameter: 1,92 meters
Appositional growth: 1,5 milimeters per year
Estimated age: 280 years
