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Distribution and conservation status of forest plant species in sand oak forests of the Danube–Tisza Interfluve
129–140Views:500In this article we summarise the floristic data collected during our research in oak forests in the northern part of ‘Kiskunság’ since 1998. Between 2020 and 2024, we systematically visited and mapped the forest stands in the region, which have been continuous since the First Military Survey (late 18th century). A total of 100 forest patches were identified as semi-natural pedunculate oak, covering a total of 865 hectares, and floristic data could be collected in 94 of them. The data were supplemented by scattered occurrences found during the survey. A total of 1207 occurrences of 96 forest and forest edge species were recorded in the stands. Of these, 214 occurrences of 81 species are new compared to the Hungarian Floristic Mapping data. Species were grouped according to habitat preference and regional vulnerability. In total, 23 species were classified as threatened and 37 as critically endangered. Without active conservation interventions, these species could become extinct in the ’Kiskunság’ within a few decades.
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Survey on the bryophyte flora of the kurgans along the river Hernád (Hungary)
153–161Views:524This paper presents the results of the first bryofloristic survey in kurgans from North East Hungary. Altogether 41 taxa (1 liverwort and 40 mosses) were recorded from nine burial mounds. The most frequent mosses were Brachythecium rutabulum, Tortula acaulon var. acaulon and Barbula unguiculata from the localities. I found several infrequent bryophyte species on the surveyed Hungarian kurgans, such as Acaulon muticum, Acaulon triquetrum, Pterygoneurum subsessile, Riccia ciliata, Tortula caucasica, Trichostomum brachydontium and Trichostomum crispulum. There was no correlation between the number of bryophytes and the area of the kurgans. The proportion of the annual shuttle life strategy, i.e. species with a very short life span, is relatively high compared to other recent studies from Hungary (e.g. Buda arboretum and Balaton village), thereby these habitats may be potential refuges for ephemeral bryophytes.
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Contributions to the Atlas Florae Hungariae VIII.
238-261Views:596The current paper is the 8th in the series aiming to contribute with new distribution data to the maps published quite recently in Atlas Florae Hungariae. Distribution data of 539 plant taxa from 157 flora mapping units is presented in this study, most of them are located in the western half of the country. As a result of systematic surveys, more than 190 new species were found in a single flora mapping quadrat. In another survey along some asphalted roadsides Puccinellia distans was found as a new species for 68 flora mapping grid units. All these indicate the necessity of further systematic research and publication of floristic results in papers like the “Contributions…” series. Most of the enumerated taxa are frequent, treated usually as weeds, but some of them are sparse and scattered or rare in Hungary (e.g. Nigella arvensis, Vaccaria hispanica, Rumex pulcher, Urtica urens), and in some cases they are legally protected plants in Hungary (e.g. Asplenium adiantum-nigrum, Dryopteris affinis, Gymnocarpium dryopteris and Huperzia selago). We also listed some casual alien plants and naturalized species that were not mentioned in the last neophyte list of Hungary (e.g. Acer cissifolium, Cyperus alternifolius, Gaillardia aristata, Galanthus elwesii). In the Outlook we pointed out the insufficient survey of some synanthropic (urban) habitat types in Hungary, like verges, gardens and flowerbeds that can be the hotbed of established species or can serve as stepping stones for potential invaders.
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Contributions to the flora of Western-Transdanubia (W Hungary)
213-234Views:382In this paper, we presented the results of our floristic survey in West-Hungarian region. The data were collected between 2005 and 2015 and supportted with herbaria or photo-documentation. This paper reports new floristic data of 98 taxa from West-Hungary with altogether 172 field-collected data records. In the survey we focused on little-known taxa with a phyto-geographic importance. For some taxa we checked the herbarium specimens of Savaria Museum and Natural History Museum of Budapest. During our fieldwork we recorded 8 species new to W-Hungary, including 3 species considered to be native to the region [Oenanthe banatica Heuff., Koeleria pyramidata (Lam.) P. Beauv., Polycnemum majus A. Braun.]. Almost all of the recorded species are regarded as indigenous plants, many of them has nature conservation importance, thus, their monitoring are highly advised. We found new localities of many species which of high importance for plant geography describing their current distribution. Most of the recorded species occur in natural or semi-natural habitats, but some taxa were found in synanthropic habitats and extensive arable lands.
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Rise and fall of Juncus maritimus in the Balaton region
3-16Views:223The searush (Juncus maritimus Lam.) is a coastal halophyte of Eurasia, with a few isolated interior occurrences in Europe. In the Pannonian Basin, the species was found in the 1920s on the shores of Balaton and Fertő Lakes. In one of its distribution hotspots, the Balaton region, the rapid wetland deterioration calls for an up-to-date assessment of its existing populations. In this study, we document the coenological relations of J. maritimus stands based on recent relevés, assess the state of its populations, and evaluate their vegetation changes between 2015 and 2024. We confirmed the occurrence of J. maritimus in eight localities. The majority of relevés with J. maritimus correspond with the Scorzonero parviflorae-Juncetum gerardii association, sporadically with the Astereto pannonici-Schoenetum nigricanti. Our phytosociological survey repeated after a decade revealed a lower number of wetland and halophytic specialists, together with J. maritimus, and an expansion of Cladium mariscus and Solidago gigantea. The fragmented salt marshes and fen meadows where searush occurs are more threatened than the species itself, thanks to its ability to establish on new sites. Nevertheless, the potential habitats are constantly diminishing by construction, massive tourism development and secondary succession. Moreover, increasing droughts in recent years have even more accelerated the desiccation of wet habitats.
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The historical occurrence of Digitaria ciliaris in Hungary – results of a herbarium survey
53–62Views:416Revision of genus Digitaria in BP Herbarium Carpato-Pannonicum collection helped to discover the historical occurrence of Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koeler from Győr, in the area of an old cotton and wool processing and textile factory. However, it has been proved that the previously published Hungarian records of the species are all wrong, as the Digitaria-keys of Hungarian herbals misinterpreted the taxon, mainly as a synonym of D. sanguinalis subsp. pectiniformis. The herbarium survey confirmed that D. sanguinalis is the most common taxon in Hungary. D. sanguinalis subsp. pectiniformis is also widespread, but probably somewhat under-mapped. Probably not native to Hungary, most probably an archeophyte taxon. Specimens have been collected from disturbed habitats associated to railways and from xerothermic vineyard areas for over a hundred years. D. ischaemum is certainly native to the region, with a recognisable natural distribution pattern, and is found mainly in the sandy and gravelly soils of the lowland and hilly areas of the country. This species has recently become more common in urban areas across the country with the recent spread of sand-lined pavements. D. ciliaris of tropical/subtropical origin is a casual alien species that was formerly present in the Hungarian flora.
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The occurences of two ‘old-new’ alien grass species, Rostraria cristata (L.) Tzvelev and Cynosurus echinatus L. in Pécs
39-42Views:206Some small populations of Rostraria cristata and Cynosurus echinatus, two ‘old-new’ alien grass species in Hungary, were recently discovered in the city of Pécs (South Hungary). A morphological description of these species as well as a survey of their former and current localities are presented.
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Data on the occurrence of Ducellieria chodatii in West-Hungary
3-10Views:550During an algal survey of the peat moss transition bog near Kőszeg, in the Alsó-erdő, which started nearly three years ago, a new, previously unregistered species, Ducellieria chodatii (Ducellier) Teiling, was found in spring 2022. As a pine pollen parasite, its appearance can be linked to the recent increased pollen production in the surrounding pine and pine-mixed stands. Both morphologically and in terms of the environmental conditions of the biotope, the results of the studies were largely consistent with previous relevant data in the literature. Differences from previous literature are the lower spatial depth of the habitat and the high conductivity of one of the sample sites. All this knowledge, together with the accompanying photographs, is intended to serve as a contribution not only to research on the native occurrence of D. chodatii, but also to research on the morphological, taxonomic characteristics and ecological requirements of the species.
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Hungarian localities of Himantoglossum adriaticum and its land-use history
84–94Views:456Himantoglossum adriaticum H. Baumann is a Natura 2000, CITES species and strictly protected plant in Hungary. During my field work (1992–2016) I realized some similarities in the characteristics of the habitats where the plant grows, so I wanted to know the land use history of the areas in question. The H. adriaticum population of Keszthely Hills was studied the longest time. There were annually 7–78 inflorescences between 1992–2016. Recently two further localities were found in Keszthely Hills. They grow in the edges of grasses used earlier as pasture, minor roadside verges and nearby abandoned vineyards. The largest population can be found in Sümeg region, majority of the individuals are along a paved road. Among the estimated 1000–2000 individuals 10 (2012) to 214 (2014) flowered. In Kőszeg, the lizard orchid grows in abandoned vineyards and in old traditional orchards. The maximum number of inflorescences was 165 (2016). In Bakony Hills its habitats are vineyards and orchards abandoned approximately 50 years ago. The size of H. adriaticum population here is nearly the same as in the Keszthely Hills. Four out of the five populations are growing on sites used as vineyard or orchard already in the years of the First Military Survey. The only exception is the population of Sümeg region. Every habitat is threatened by spontaneous forestation, but the species is able to find new habitats, so we do not worry about the drastic decline of the individuals in Hungary.
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The microscopic fungi of protected plant species in the Őrség National Park and the surrounding area (W Hungary)
187-211Views:217The paper deals with the study of microscopic fungi occurring on protected plant species of the National Park of Őrség and the surroundings. The survey includes both field observations and laboratory tests. The aim of the study was to identify the microscopic pathogen fungi living on protected plant species. Also spatial and temporal distribution, infection and damage rate of pathogenic fungi infections were determined for some protected plant species. Between 2002 and 2009 mycological research was conducted including 78 protected plant species and near to one hundred fungus species were identified on them. We provided data at the first time of microscopic fungi found on protected plants of Őrség.
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Dactylorhiza traunsteineri (Saut. ex Rchb.) Soó: an unexpected record in the Romanian flora
15-24Views:230Dactylorhiza Necker ex Nevski is a complex genus. The taxonomy of these dactylorchids is widely considered to be complicated due to relatively high morphological variability within species and high frequency of hybridization between species. During a floristic survey of the Valea Morii (Morii Valley, Malomvölgy) Nature Reserve in June 2017, a population of Dactylorhiza traunsteineri (Saut. ex. Rchb.) Soó, a species with uncertain presence in the Romanian flora was found. In the Morii Valley, this narrow-leaved marsh-orchid was encountered in fen-patches, in phytocoenoses of the plant association Orchido-Schoenetum nigricantis Oberd. 1957. Due to the cool and wet microclimate of the Morii Valley, many glacial relicts and other plant rarities (e.g. Tofieldia calyculata (L.) Wahlenb., Swertia perennis (L.), Liparis loeselii (L.) Rich., Ophioglossum vulgatum L. Schoenus nigricans L.) had been able to survive on strongly humid places on calcareous soils. This study reports the first occurrence of D. traunsteineri in Romania confirming the presence of a highly debated taxon. We also discuss the morphological features, habitat preference and conservation status of this new species in the Romanian Flora.
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Corydalis pumila in the Southern ‘Tiszántúl’ and further data on the forest flora of ‘Kis-Sárrét’ and ‘Körös Plain’
120–128Views:306This article presents some interesting floristic data from the survey of forests of the ‘Kis-Sarrét’ and the ‘Körös Plain’ microregions (East Hungary) between 2016 and 2024. This article focuses on species associated with mesophilic forests. The majority of the data presented are from the forests of the ‘Kis-Sarrét’ and the ‘Körös Plain’, including some surprising species new to the southern part of the ‘Tiszántúl’ region, including Corydalis pumila in Bélmegyer and Salvia glutinosa in Körösnagyharsány. Several species typical of mesophilic forests were also found in these two areas, which are extremely rare in the southern part of ‘Tiszántúl’ region, of which only one or two current occurrences are known (e.g. Allium oleraceum, Carex remota, Hesperis sylvestris and Orchis purpurea). In addition to the most interesting data, I report the occurrence of all species associated with mesophilic forests that are not included in the maps of the online database of Hungarian vascular plants, except for a few common species. The level of detail of the 42 species enumerated varies according to their importance. The more interesting species are described in more detail, while for the more common species, only brief occurrence data are given, with some comments where necessary.
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Contribution to the bryoflora of Sopron Hills (W Hungary) II.
59-66Views:408Based on data collected during their field survey in 2009–2014, the authors present the results of bryofloristical investigations carried out in the Hungarian part of Sopron Hills. The authors have detected altogether 22 species previously unreported from the territory. These are: Diplophyllum albicans, Scapania lingulata, Scapania scandica, Bryoerythrophyllum recurvirostrum, Ctenidium molluscum, Didymodon vinealis, Ditrichum cylindricum, Ditrichum pusillum, Fissidens dubius, Fissidens exilis, Homalothecium sericeum, Leucobryum juniperoideum, Neckera crispa, Orthotrichum lyellii, Orthotrichum obtusifolium, Orthotrichum pallens, Orthotrichum patens, Orthotrichum stramineum, Orthotrichum striatum, Rhodobryum ontariense, Thamnobryum alopecurum, Tortella tortuosa, Tortula virescens. Diplophyllum albicans and Mnium thomsonii have their only extant occurrences in Hungary in the region.
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The flora of the Sárvíz plain (Mezőföld, Hungary)
207–226Views:474In this paper, I present chorological data on the plants growing on the alluvial plain of the Sárvíz river in eastern Transdanubia, Hungary. Species characteristic of reed and sedge marshes, salt lakes and alkali flats, as well as remnants of hardwood forests and mesoxeric grasslands are listed in the enumeration. Since 2004, I have confirmed the occurrence of 50 species previously not recorded in the study area. Here, I report the species names, followed by data on the locality: the name of the township, the geographical name of the locality, and the code(s) of both grid systems, the Central European Flora Mapping System (CEU) and the UTM. Sites where I observed or collected the species after 2004 are in bold. Names of species new to the study area are underlined.
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Astragalus vesicarius and other new taxa to the flora of the Vértes Mountains (Hungary, Transdanubian Mts)
195–199Views:505A conservation survey on the condition of steppe and forest-steppe habitats in the Vértes Mts revealed several plant species from the flora of the area that have not been reported before. From a phytogeographical point of view, the most important is Astragalus vesicarius, whose small population in the Vértes fits very well into the native distribution pattern of the species in Hungary. Another important steppe plant is Stipa dasyphylla, which is found in two locations in the Vértes Mts. Besides other taxa of conservation interest (Orobanche teucrii, Phelipanche purpurea, Rosa hungarica), some under-recorded species (Cerastium tenoreanum, Stellaria pallida), and some spreading weeds (Elymus elongatus, Euphorbia lathyris) enrich our knowledge of the flora of the area.
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Campylopus flexuosus (Hedw.) Brid. in the Western Mecsek Mts. (South Transdanubia, Hungary)
28-37Views:378During a field survey in 2014, new localities of Campylopus flexuosus, were found in humid acidophilous oak and beech forests in the Western part of the Mecsek Mts. As a new element of the Hungarian bryoflora, C. flexuosus was discovered in 2013 in the Bakony Mts by Peter Erzberger and Csaba Németh. The localities of the sometimes extensive stands are enumerated, the size of the populations is estimated and the associated bryophyte and higher plant species are listed. Some morphological differences between C. flexuosus and the similar moss Dicranum flagellare are described and illustrated. Some interesting results of a revision of D. flagellare specimens in BP are compared with the actual distribution of C. flexuosus and lead to the conclusion that this species can be treated as a potentially expansive moss in humid acidophilous forests of the Mecsek Mts.
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Current research results and overview of historic data of Cirsium brachycephalum Jur. in Tolna county, SW-Hungary
75-79Views:227The distribution of the thistle species Cirsium brachycephalum in Tolna county was studied as a part of the Hungarian National Biodiversity Monitoring System. Occurrence data of this endemic species of community importance having been listed as protected since 1993 were scarcely available for Tolna county. In addition to our most recent survey, this paper also provides an analysis of former literature data, and calls the attention that there is a possibility for revealing further valuable botanical information in the less surveyed areas of Tolna county.
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Online distribution atlas of the Hungarian vascular flora (Atlas Florae Hungariae): Homepage structure and prospects of database building
238–252Views:838In December 2018 the online Distribution atlas of vascular plants of Hungary (Atlas Florae Hungariae) was published. The database was built from more than 1 million data records. It mainly contains data from the Hungarian Flora Mapping Programme, but herbarium and literature data were also processed. Maps of species richness illustrate the taxonomic diversity of biogeographical areas and shows the differences of survey quality. After the Flora Mapping Programme ended, between 2016 and 2019, additional data from scientific articles were processed. 25% of new data originated from the article series “Contributions to the Atlas Florae Hungariae” in the Kitaibelia journal, which significantly broadened the distribution of some species. Records of Mesophile forest species (e.g. Allium ursinum, Dryopteris dilatata) increased, as well as records of weed species (e.g. Euphorbia maculata, Senecio vernalis) which can be attributed to their natural spreading. The most important future tasks are to create a reviewed list of taxa and extend data records with an attribute table containing all additional information. Until now the database website is presented only in Hungarian (http://floraatlasz.uni-sopron.hu). Registration is available for anybody, after sending a request via e-mail (atlas.florae.hungariae@uni-sopron.hu). There are different options (excel file by e-mail or online web form) on how to upload floristic data for registered users. Data is only accepted if required information (name of taxa, date, data publisher, settlement, CEU code) is filled out. Each record of uploaded data is revised by the website administrator and taxa specialists. The English version of the webpage will be available in the near future.
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Distribution and flora of areas with alkaline and saline soils in the Mezőföld, Hungary
39-61Views:373Areas with alkaline and saline (solonetz and solonchak) soils occupy substantial areas in the westernmost, Transdanubian part of the Great Hungarian Plain (Mezőföld). To this date, the flora and vegetation of only two localities have been studied in some detail, while the rest has remained largely unknown in this respect. In this paper, I provide brief descriptions of these little-known areas and present a list of halophytes with distribution data from the last 17 years. The names of the plants are followed by the name of the township and the geographical location where the plant was found, the code of the grid cell of the Central European Flora Survey grid that includes the location, and in selected species, the year when the species was first recorded. The list is arranged in alphabetical order irrespective of taxonomy. The occurrence data indicate that the floras of these saline-alkaline areas represent only subsets of, but in combination are almost identical to the overall flora of similar habitats in the Sárvíz plain.
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Lectotypification of Thesium kernerianum Simonk.
69-74Views:278Thesium kernerianum is an endemic species of the Eastern Carpathians (in broad sense). The paper includes a survey of the discovery as well as the literature and herbarium records of this species. The name is lectotypified, and a few inaccuracies appearing in the literature are corrected.
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Contributions to the Atlas Florae Hungariae X.
101–106Views:717This paper is the 10th in the series aiming to contribute with new distribution data to the maps published recently in Atlas Florae Hungariae. Distribution data of 686 plant species from 194 flora mapping units are published in this study, but all of them are listed in an electronic appendix. As a result of local surveys, more than 100 new species were found in a single flora mapping unit. Other “linear surveys” along the National Blue Trail revealed 142 new species in 10 flora mapping units in total. Among these, Carex strigosa is one of the most interesting taxa in the Bakony Mts. Previously published and new distribution data of this legally protected sedge species suggests that it is spreading from SW to NE within the Transdanubian Mts. Results from our survey shows that studying synanthropic habitats like frequently used hiking trails might provide a significant amount of new data points at the scale of Hungarian Flora mapping units. Moreover, similar studies might shed some light on the origins and migration routes (e.g. Illyrian and Dacian routes) of “native” species.
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Discovery of a new large population of Prunus tenella on a young old-field suggests remarkable regeneration ability of the species
32-38Views:555Kurgans are ancient burial mounds built by nomadic steppic cultures across Eurasia.
These monuments are important cultural landmarks, and often also preserve the remnants of dry grasslands even in intensively used agricultural landscapes. In the past centuries, many kurgans have been ploughed and their vegetation has been destroyed. Due to their recent inclusion in the agrienvironmental schemes in Hungary, crop production has been ceased on many kurgans in the past years. Here we present an interesting botanical discovery which we made during our country-scale survey of spontaneously recovering grasslands on kurgans. We discovered a large population of approximately 15,000 shoots of the protected loess grassland plant Prunus tenella Batsch (syn.: Amygdalus nana L.) on the Fekete-halom kurgan near Tiszainoka, in the centre of the Great Hungarian Plain. The mound had been used as an intensive cropland until 2014. Most probably, the plants could re-establish from some hidden shoots that could persist in the refuge provided by the concrete elements of a geodesic mark, and after the cessation of ploughing it could expand onto the north and west-facing slopes of the mound by sprouting and by germination from the persistent soil seed bank. Besides the conservation importance of this floristic discovery, it also suggests that spontaneous regeneration can be an effective restoration measure and that kurgans abandoned from agricultural cultivation can serve as suitable habitats for rare and endangered species. -
Natural values of Mt Somsich near Villány, threatening factors and necessary conservation actions
55–62Views:194Although Mt Somsich is very rich in natural values, it is still a poorly-known part of the Villány Mts. Apart from a few scattered floristic data and a short habitat description, its vegetation is virtually unexplored. The aim of this paper is to characterize the natural and semi-natural habitats of Mt Somsich, give the current population sizes of the protected plant species, survey their threats, and offer suggestions for further conservation activities. Disregarding the totally artificial habitats, five habitat types were distinguished on Mt Somsich, of which the pubescent oak scrub is the most valuable. A total of 15 protected plant species have been reported so far, of which 11 are currently recorded on Mt Somsich. The local wildlife is affected by loss and fragmentation of habitats as well as illegal activities. The negative influences cannot be fully eliminated, but could be minimized.
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Najas gracillima (A. Braun ex Engelmann) Magnus in Hungary
43-49Views:306Najas gracillima, an introduced species to Europe, naturally occurs in East-Asia and NorthAmerica. It was firstly discovered in Hungary in 2012 in our weed survey of rice fields in the vicinity of Szarvas, Gyomaendrőd and Mezőtúr. Although, it occurred in relatively high abundances in the rice fields along the Körös river its invasion is not expected into new habitats in the near future due to its special habitat preference and gregariousness.
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Results of the Vincetoxicum pannonicum population survey (2001–2019)
9–18Views:1490The Pannonian swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum pannonicum (Borhidi) Holub) is endemic to the Pannonian biogeographical region, occurring only in the Buda and Villány Mts in Hungary. Current distribution and population size of this rare plant species is surveyed. The species is recorded from the following localities: Budajenő: Községi erdő, Budaörs: Szekrényes, Kő-hegy, Odvas-hegy, Szállás-hegy, Út-hegy, Páty: Fekete-hegyek; Nagyharsány: Szársomlyó. According to our research, the total number of individuals is around 3550. The largest populations were found at Községi erdő (Budajenő), Szállás-hegy (Budaörs) and Fekete-hegyek (Páty). In the Villány Hills (Mt Szársomlyó) ca 50 specimens were counted. The peak flowering period of Vincetoxicum pannonicum was observed between 20th and 29th of May.