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Ex situ ohranjanje vrste Degenia velebitica (Dègen) Hayek 
z licenciranim gojenjem in prodajo sadik
Ex situ conservation of Degenia velebitica (Dègen) Hayek 
through licensed cultivation and sale
v a n j a ST a M e n k o v i ć
Botanical Garden of the Faculty of Science, Zagreb University, Trg Marka Marulića 
9a, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia; vstamen@botanic.hr
Degenia velebitica, generally recognized as a symbol of Croatian mountains as well 
as rich Croatian endemic flora, grows wild in several spots along the Kapela and Velebit 
mountains. It enjoys statutory protection since 1964, and wild populations are directly 
protected within the Velebit National park and Park of nature borders. Nevertheless, 
Degenia is an endangered plant species, suffering from unlawful collecting of specimens 
or seeds, but mostly as a result of degradation of its natural habitat; rockeries, screes and 
crevices are being colonized and covered by ‘aggressive’ plants, such as Sesleria juncifolia, 
which ‘smother’ delicate Degenia populations and stop their development.
Permanent populations of Degenia are being cultivated in the Botanical garden of the 
Faculty of Science (Zagreb University) for the last half of century, and two test flower beds 
were arranged 10 years ago following the ‘tip’ from colleges at the Botanical garden of 
the Ljubljana University, using ordinary garden soil and plenty of calcareous gravel. Fully 
developed populations blossomed plentifully, providing with a large number of viable seeds 
that was being used in further experiments and cultivation. Data collected over the years 
was used to successfully cultivate single pot specimens. Special Licence had to be obtained 
from the national Nature protection agency before the start of the cultivation programme, 
and only 10% of the permitted number of specimens was grown, in order to investigate the 
purchase interest. Most of the specimens were sold to selected Elementary schools from all 
Croatian provinces at the Degenia Exhibition opening ceremony, and the rest was available 
to the public. Funds obtained from the sales will be invested in the further developing of 
this Ex situ programme, with some other endemic plants such as Centaurea ragusina and 
Campanula tommasiniana to follow.
v a n j a ST a M e n k o v i ć : Ex situ ohranjanje vrste Degenia velebitica (Dègen) Hayek…