8. “Kleebwälder”
Forests sticking on steep slopes
Those fortunate enough to follow the Ölbergpfad in March will be pleased about the splendid snowdrops growing on the north-eastern part of the Ölberg. A close look at the flowers discloses a secret: These flowers are not the snowdrops typically growing in gardens, but the rare wild plant “snowflake”. These both flowers can be doubtlessly distinguished because of the yellow green spots decorating the edges of the outer sepals. Our Swabian guests certainly know this plant from many valley incisions of the Swabian Alb.
This plant demonstrates special environmental conditions being well comprehensible at this place. The slope leads steeply from the nearby Möhlin to the limestone rocks of the Ölberg. It is aligned to the east and that’s the reason why the slope is only heated by the rays of the morning sun. Big beech trees form a dense leaf canopy, but enough light can entry from the side. Even in summer, there is a certain moisture in the near-ground air and on the soil due to the nearby river. That’s exactly what the “snowflake” does prefer: A certain type of forest which seems to stick in slope valley incisions beneath the rocks. In the Swabian region, it is called “Kleebwald” (sticking forest). Kindly pay attention to the fact that the “snowflake” is protected and the gathering of plants is not allowed in the nature reserve.