Grmoščica or Grmošćica is a hill on Medvednica mountain in central Croatia, just north of Zagreb. Its highest peak is 239 m.
Etymology.
The oldest surviving mention of the hill is in a 1217 document under the name "Gremla".
The form "Grmoščica" is Kajkavian, whereas the form "Grmošćica" is a correction according to the Croatian standard. It consists of a root inherited from Proto-Slavic grъmъ + -oš + -čica. A dialectal form "Grmovčica" is also encountered. Both spellings continue to be used.
In other dialects, the word "grmoščica" is used to refer to the mushroom "Armillaria tabescens".
Biology.
Flora.
Trees include "Castanea sativa", "Fagus sylvatica", "Quercus petraea", "Salix alba", "S. purpurea", and others.
There is currently a "Robinia pseudoacacia" infestation, and foresters are trying to force the growth of native "Q. petraea" and "F. sylvatica" to combat it. The local "C. sativa" population is still badly affected by "Cryphonectria parasitica".
The lichen species found on oak bark on the hill are "Flavoparmelia caperata" and "Hypogymnia physodes".
Fauna.
Insects include "Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata" and the invasive species "Dryocosmus kuriphilus", the latter a risk for the spread of "Cryphonectria parasitica".
Geoscience.
Geology.
Grmoščica is home to some of the most active landslides in Zagreb.
Speleology.
"Kustošijanka" is a cave with two entrances and 44 m of passageway on the north slope of a valley on the east side of Grmoščica. It is located on the fault line dividing Grmoščica in half from northeast to southwest. Its entrance is at an elevation of 155 m. The caver Darko Višek learned of its existence in conversation with local resident Vlado Krapljan, who was among the visitors who left many names and dates inscribed on the walls of the cave in their childhood. It formed in Upper Pontian layers of marlstone, duststone, and sandstone: ""Rhomboidea" layers", deposited in brackish conditions. Thanks to being on a landslide-prone part of the hill, the entrance became covered at some point after 1993 and could only be passed following digging in 2010.
Clay pit.
An inactive 15.85 ha clay pit remains "in situ" on the southeast side of the hill.
Landslides.
A large area of the forest on Grmoščica is under private ownership, which has resulted in forest loss, which has led to landslide formation.
Forest Park.
The is in area, of which is forested, of which is state owned. The average wood stock is per hectare, and average current annual increment per hectare.
It is planned to renew the "Populus" population in two cuts, to bring in 15,000 "Q. petraea" seedlings per hectare and to reforest cleared areas with "Picea abies", "Pinus" species an others.
The park is one of the few places in Zagreb where dogs are allowed without a leash.
Recreation.
The arrangement of the Forest Park Grmoščica for recreation has been described as "neglected" by authorities. This began to change following the inclusion of the addition of recreational infrastructure to the park plan. A series of new downhill bicycle routes were added in 2021, although the majority of routes had been constructed on private initiative.
One of the earliest and more successful branches of the , "Grmoščica", founded in 1938, meets on the hill. Within Yugoslavia, they won the male national cup 9 times.