a poisonous mushroom with a beautiful white-spotted, often red cap. Rarely lethal, it may cause hallucinations in larger quantities. It is recognizable in popular culture from the rituals of Vikings and Siberian shamans. Used as a fly killer.

Perennial. Endangered species, Balkan endemic. It grows in rare oak forests and scrub on cinnamon forest soils at an altitude of about 800 m. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds. Flowering in June and July. Nuts brown, trigonous, elongated.

Balkan sub-endemic, protected species, near threatened in Bulgaria and vulnerable species in Serbia; bulbous perennial herbaceous plant with an erect stem up to 1 m high, with lanceolate leaves, topped by 1-5 large golden yellow flowers. Blooms in June and July.

an endemic Vlasina plant found in bogs, marshes and fens; the plant feeds on insects attracted by drops of sticky sugary substance produced by glands in its leaves. It has a curative effect against whooping cough, spasmodic cough, bronchial catarrh.

a broadleaf deciduous tree; it lives up to 600 – 700 years; used as an ornamental tree and a coastal windbreak; its fruits are acorns in cups densely covered in 'mossy' bristles, which are very bitter, but are eaten by jays and pigeons.

vulnerable Bulgarian endemic, protected species; a wild tulip named after Ivan Urumov, an eminent Bulgarian botanist; Bulbous perennial, stem 30 cm high; bluish-green leaves; yellow, rarely red flower ; occurs in grassy and shrubby communities.

Evergreen, up to 50 m high; its branches are set in rings equal to the number of its years. The bark is lighter in colour at the top, hence its name. It lives up to 600 years; used to make tar, rosin, turpentine and paper; cones can paint wool dark blue.

It can reach an age of 500 to 600 years and heights up to 65 m. It has the pleasant aroma of balm and yields essential oil used to make camphor. The cones are 10-16 cm long and disintegrate when mature to release the seeds; similar to the Bulgarian fir.

Native to southeastern Europe, up to 30 m tall. The young twigs are first hairy and later on bare. The leaves are deeply notched. The flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant and are pollinated by wind.

protected species, an endemic tree growing on freely floating wind driven one-meter-thick peat islands at the Vlasina Lake. It has a highly branched stem, creeping at the base, hairy young twigs, as well as lanceolate leaves.

vulnerable species, Balkan endemic. Perennial herb with a woody rhizome. Stems 15–30 cm, leafy throughout. Reproduction mainly by seeds but also by vegetative means, through rhizomatous shoots. Strongly fragmented and small populations.

It has a stout trunk with smooth bark; beech leaves are a fine salad vegetable; beeches are monoecious, bearing both male and female flowers on the same plant; the fruit is three–angled beechnut or beechmast, which can be poisonous when raw.

Bulgarian endemic, a protected plant species described by the botanists Nicolay Stojanov and Boris Stefanov in 1921; 20-30 cm high with oblanceolate leaves and bluish-lilac flowers. It grows only in Bulgaria, in mountain pastures and pine scrub.

A deciduous tree living over 1000 years. Its oldest representative in Bulgaria is that in the village of Granit, aged 1664. Numerous insects live on the leaves, buds, and in the acorns. The acorns are valuable food for some small mammals and birds.

Perennial herbaceous plant, endangered species. Stem up to 20 cm high, hairy, yellowish white starry florets. It grows in crevices of hard to access rocks in the subalpine and alpine belts. Used in medicine for medication against lung and heart diseases.

A Balkan endemic species. The scientific name honours Tsar Boris III of Bulgaria, during whose reign (in 1925) it was described as a new species. The leaves are needle-like, flattened, glossy dark green above, with two blue-white bands below and at times slightly notched tips.

Herbaceous bulbous perennial. Endangered and protected species with 2 basel leaves. Scape topped with a dropping white bell-shaped flower. It is poisonous. It blooms between January and April. Its name honors Henry John Elwes, an English botanist.

A deciduous tree, symbol of strength. In a good year it may produce up to 50 000 acorns, in groups of 2 to 5, which are stalkless, sitting directly on the leaves. It can reach a height of 30 – 40 m and an age of over 1000 years. It is resistant to cold.

A deciduous tree up to 40 m tall. Both male and female flowers can occur on the same tree. It can live up to 250 years. It is used to make furniture, sports devices, and ships. Its bark contains tannins and is used to obtain black and brown dye.

It can get as tall as 40 m.; used as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens; its leaves are yellow-reddish and golden in autumn; usually monoecious, the flowers are produced in spring at the same time as the leaves open; its sap is used as a sweetener.

Balkan endemic, protected species, herbaceous bulbous perennial, flourishes on grass and brush in limestone mountain spoles. It flowers in April and May. The flowers are purple, borne singly, or in twos or threes on scape top, drooping.

A minute shrubby tree up to 12 m. high. Its stalk is crooked, with smooth lead- coloured bark. Its leaves are 3–5 cm long, with double serrated margins, dark green and glossy on top and light green below. Their shape is ovoid. The fruit is a small nut about 3–6 mm long

an endemic deciduous tree with dull grey-white bark growing on floating peat islands at the Vlasina Lake. The flowers are wind-pollinated catkins, produced in early spring before the leaves, which are ovate-acute. The seeds have small wings.

a Balkan endemic plant; an evergreen tree or shrub, 6 – 8 m tall, with large shiny leaves and white flowers grouped in clusters; the leaves are dark green; the fruit is black, round, aromatic and poisonous similarly to the seeds; suitable for hedges.

20 to 40 m tall, with heart-shaped leaves. The blossoms look like little yellowish umbrellas with strong flavor; they are used to make tea with disinfectant and anti-inflammatory effect and the potion is suitable to treat burns, joint pain, etc.

a biennial hairy herbaceous plant; its leaves are alternating, arranged in a rosette; solitary stem, up to 1.5 m high. The flowers a yellow. Used to cure diseases of the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract and as an ornamental plant.

a biennial herbaceous spiny plant with massive main stem, which is branched, with vertical broad spiny wings; globe shaped androgynous flowers, from dark pink to lavender. Used to treat cancers and ulcers. The seed oil was used for burning and cooking.

annual herbaceous erect plant, up to 60 cm high; the stem is covered with coarse hairs, the flowers are vivid red, large and showy. It is used as a sedative and softening agent in cough, headache, insomnia and poor digestion.

An evergreen groundcover shrub with twigs 20-50 cm long. The leaves are small, leathery and ovoid, the flowers are urn-shaped, white and pale pink. The fruit is a small spherical red berry. It has a mild diuretic and antiseptic effect.

Perennial plant, endangered species; the stem is hollow, up to 80 cm high; inflorescence with up to 100 flowers, which are small and flesh pink; the fruit is a pod; insect pollination; reproduction by seeds; thrives on wet meadows.

a deciduous tree with a wide-spreading root system and a straight trunk. The bark is smooth and grey, even in old trees, the leaves are ovoid. It is monoecious. The wood is heavy and hard, and is used for making tools and furniture.

a perennial herbaceous plant, protected species; slender unbranched stem, up to 1 m tall; beautiful bright yellow, globe-shaped flowers; it is slightly poisonous; It grows in damp ground in shady areas; flowers between June and August; a purgative herb.

rare and protected species; Balkan endemic; perennial herbaceous plant up to 15 cm high; hairy leaves; yellow - orange bloom colour; it blossoms in the period February-April; it thrives in sun to partial shade.

perennial herbaceous plant; it spreads by seeds and rhizomes; stems are up to 25 cm high; often found in colonies of dozens of plants; the large yellow flowers appear in early spring; leaves develop later; it has a curative effect.

endangered and protected species; perennial herbaceous plant with vertical rhizome; the stem is up to 30 cm high; overwintering leaves; nodding or erect flowers, outer pink, violet or blue at base, inner whitish; poisonous.

vulnerable Balkan endemic, protected species; annual to biennial herbs; greyish white stem up to 30 cm high; petals yellow, at the base orange, not fragrant; blooms from June to August; reproduction by seeds; Inhabits grassy and rocky places.

protected vulnerable species, Bulgarian endemic; perennial herbaceous plant with short rhizome; elongated grayish green l leaves in a rosettes; red-purple blooms, high above the leaves; grows above the tree line in Rila mountain.

endangered species; perennial herbaceous plant with short rhizome and large trilobe leaves; stems up to 60 cm high topped by a single bloom; large pink and red flowers; blosoms in May; grows in open places in oak and other woods.

an evergreen conifer reaching an age of over 2000 years and a height of over 115 m; regarded as the tallest tree in the world of today; largely fire resistant; it likes fog; by the village of Bogoslov there is a site with a group of such trees called Yuchbonar.

a wild rose species, a perennial spiny climbing shrub, up to 5m high; stems are covered with sharp prickles; flowers are pale pink to white; the fruit is oval and red-orange; full of seeds. The “queen of herbs” is high in antioxidants and vitamin C.

“plant of life”, an evergreen procumbent shrub or small tree, a perennial plant with needle-like leaves. It can survive even on stone rivers. It is used to treat allergic, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and as a meat spice.

a small perennial shrub growing to some 40 см tall; the leaves are oval, blue-green; the flowers are urn-shaped, pale pink; the fruit is a dark blue-black berry, edible and sweet; a herb good for the heart, eye-sight and longevity.

critically endangered and protected species, Balkan endemic; perennial herbaceous plant, stems 5–25(30) cm; yellow florets, outer slightly longer than the inner; insect pollination. Grows in dry, rocky and stony places and in rock crevices.

an evergreen conifer with branches reaching the ground and hanging down cones; it grows slowly and lives up to 1200 years. It is rich in Vitamin C and its needles can be boiled to make tea or needle tip syrup; used for musical instruments, paper, resins, essential oils.

endangered and protected Balkan endemic; perennial herbaceous plant with multiple erect stems up to 25 cm high; leaves rounded and ovate; yellow or blue violet flowers. Reproduction by seeds. Flowering May through August; thrives at dry, grassy and stony places.

critically endangered and protected species; herbaceous perennial; erect stem up to 90 cm high, usually unbranched; the leaves are of three types and sizes; yellow to yellowish orange; thrives in bogs, meadows and streamside grass communities.

critically endangered protected species; very beautiful and delicate fern; perennial herbaceous plant with a black stem up to 1 m high; grows mainly in shady and damp places; also used as an ornamental plant; it has a curative effect.

perennial herbaceous plant, Balkan endemic, protected species with arched silky-hairy stem, up to 50 cm high. The leaves are narrow and ovoid. The flowers are bright yellow.