Lykovec muránsky (Daphne arbuscula)

Daphne arbuscula is a Tertiary relic and endemic. It occurs only on the territory of the Muránská plateau and survived in an unchanged form from the Tertiary period, through all the ice ages.

It is a 10 to 30 cm tall evergreen shrub, growing mainly on hard-to-reach limestone cliffs, at an altitude of 590 to 1,330 m above sea level. It has optimal conditions on south-exposed, open or slightly shaded slopes, but it is often found on northern slopes as well. together in approximately 35 locations of the Muránská plain. Populations range in size from 10 to 500 individuals.

It blooms from April to June, with dark pink (sometimes white) intensely fragrant flowers. The leaves are linear to inverted lance-shaped, curled at the edges, blunt at the tips, leathery. Its fruits are inconspicuous drupes, covered with dry remains of the calyx. However, he rarely creates them.

Lykovec Muránsky is a symbol of the Muránska Planina National Park. It is protected by law and listed in the Red List of Plants of Slovakia as an endangered species. Its social value is EUR 230.