The flora of the Djetinja gorge is very rich and diverse. It is characterized by the presence of 653 taxa of the rank of species and subspecies. Its autochthony and richness are reflected in the presence of a large number of endemic, sub endemic, and relict plant species that emphasize its importance from the aspect of biological diversity. In the flora of the Djetinja gorge, there are 19 endemic species whose ranges do not exceed the borders of the Balkan Peninsula. There are also 23 sub-endemic species that, with their distribution, also cover neighboring areas to a lesser extent. From the list of internationally important plants that inhabit the territory of Serbia and Montenegro (Stevanović, 1995), 24 species grow on the territory of the Djetinja gorge. There are also 7 strictly protected plant species in the area.
A special type of endemism that is present in the gorge of Cetinje should be pointed out, an example of an endemic species that live in the gorge of the river Djetinja is the species of milkweed (Euphorbia subhastata). It is a species that was found at the end of the nineteenth century by our famous botanist Josif Pancic.
Forests in the gorge of the river Djetinja can be divided into two types: natural, coppice type (at an altitude of 450 to 900 meters). In the gorge of Djetinja, the coppice forests are sessile oak forests, which are often mixed with cera and black hornbeam.
The other type of forests that appear in the gorge are artificial forests, ie forests that were raised by man and are reduced to black and white pine. The main characteristics of artificial forests are that they were built on former sessile oak habitats at an altitude of 760 to 800 meters.
Depending on the altitude and habitat conditions, the forest vegetation is divided into: QuercoFagetea (community of deciduous oak and beech forests), Erico-Pinetea (coniferous forests), Alnetea glutinosae (black alder forests) and Salicetea purpureae (shrubs).
Vertical rocks and cliffs in gorges and canyons occupy large areas in which cracks and cavities develop very specific vegetation (rock crack plants or hazmophytes). Among the most important endemics and subendemics that build this vegetation in the gorge of Djetinja are: Edraianthus jugoslavicus, Asperula scutellaris, Athamantha haynaldii, Silene serbica, Moehringia bavarica, etc.
The hazmophytic vegetation of the Djetinja gorge is represented by xerophilous hazmophytic phytocenoses – the most common community of bluebells and wild carnations – an endemic connection, characteristic of the high mountains of the Dinaric sector. Specific are the hazmophytic communities that inhabit the depressions and semi-caves of the limestone canyon part of the Djetinja gorge – Moehringio-Asplenietum lepidi, which is an endemic association of the southeastern Dinarides and is best developed on vertical cliffs near the “Rajski Otoci”. It is floristically poor and composed mostly of mosses, ferns, but also a small number of flowering plants).
In rocky areas, such as the gorge of Cetinje, smaller or larger areas under sipars and grindstones are characteristic. Areas with mobile rocky material are overgrown with characteristic vegetation belonging to the classes Thlaspietea rotundifolii and Drypetea spinosae. The vegetation of the sipar is best developed in the wide amphitheater depressions of the limestone part of the Djetinja gorge.
In many places in the gorge of Djetinja, the forest has been destroyed by permanent and long-lasting anthropogenic influences, so different degradation stages of vegetation are developing in such places. On the areas where the forest vegetation is completely destroyed, mostly herbaceous phytocenoses of the Festuco-Brometea class have developed. These are pastures of secondary character that play a significant role in preventing erosion.
The limestone rocks of the Đetinje gorge are overgrown with Chrysopogoni-Satureion communities (Festuco-Brometea class), which is characteristic of such habitats in the sub-Mediterranean area.
The vegetation of mesophilic meadows is of secondary origin and develops under the strong influence of grazing and anthropogenic factors. In the gorge of Djetinja, meadows are represented on river terraces and on slightly sloping slopes, which are most often exposed to the north. The most common meadow communities in the gorge are oat meadows and combs Bromo-Cynosuretum cristati and ore meadows Agrostidetum montanum. Meadows of oats and combs are among the very high-quality meadows where mowing can be done even in autumn, so they have a high economic significance. Among other things, it is reflected in the significant appearance of medicinal and honey plants that are richly represented in such meadows. In the area of the gorge, the meadows of clover and combs – Trifolio-Cynosuretum cristati – are somewhat less represented.
