Vol. 27 No. 2 (2022)

Published September 23, 2022

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  • In memoriam Kálmán Vánky (1930–2021)
    137–139
    Views:
    160

    The author remembers Kálmán Vánky and recalls their personal encounters since 1956. Vánky was a world-famous Székely-Hungarian researcher of smut fungi, an honorary member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, who came from Szeklerland (Romania) to Sweden and worked from 1986 in Tübingen (Germany).

  • Bryophyte flora of the Arboretum of Szarvas (Hungary, Békés county)
    140–152
    Views:
    385

    In this study we present the current moss and liverwort flora of the Arboretum of Szarvas. The observations were made in 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Altogether 95 bryophyte taxa (7 liverworts and 88 mosses) were identified. Most of them are considered to be common in Hungary, however some species are rare in the Great Hungarian Plain: Lophocolea coadunata, Climacium dendroides, Hylocomiadelphus triquetrus, Pleurozium schreberi, Polytrichum formosum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Ulota crispula, Zygodon rupestris. These results also confirm the conservational and scientific value of the arboretum.

  • Survey on the bryophyte flora of the kurgans along the river Hernád (Hungary)
    153–161
    Views:
    415

    This 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.

  • Fern (Pteridopsida) flora of South Nyírség (East Hungary)
    162–182
    Views:
    360

    The study presents a number of new data on the fern flora of South Nyírség, and reviews all available literature and herbarium fern records from the area. A total of 19 Pteridopsida species were detected in the region. The hart's tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) and the soft shield fern (Polystichum setiferum) were hitherto unknown in the whole Nyírség region (flora district “Nyírségense”). The broad buckler-fern (Dryopteris dilatata), scaly male fern (Dryopteris affinis) and floating fern (Salvinia natans) are new records to the area of South Nyírség. Dryopteris dilatata has been found in a surprisingly great number of localities. Some morphological characters facilitating identification of this species are also discussed. The local pine plantations, fens, carrs and humid deciduous forests are important habitats for ferns. In some localities the co-occurrence of 5-6 fern species were observed. The increasing aridity in the last decade is posing a serious threat to ferns in the area.

  • Data on the distribution of some protected plant species and on their presence in secondary habitats
    183-199
    Views:
    1778

    In this paper, I publish my floristic data on some protected and strictly protected plant species collected in Hungary between 2016 and 2021. The data published in this paper cover 31 micro regions of Hungary, but most of them come from the Great Hungarian Plain, especially from Pest and Bács-Kiskun counties. I describe the occurrences of 41 protected and three strictly protected vascular plant species (two ferns and 42 flowering plants), some of which represent new data for the particular micro region or even larger geographical areas (e.g. Botrychium matricariifolium, Thlaspi alliaceum and Nasturtium officinale). For some species, the published data either come from floristically understudied areas (e.g. Ranunculus illyricus, Vinca herbacea and Cardamine amara) or are considered rare in the certain region and/or in the whole country (e.g. Apium repens, Cnidium dubium and Vicia narbonensis). For other species, the newly reported occurrences are presented as complement to the already known distribution data (e.g. Cephalanthera damasonium, C. rubra, Linaria biebersteinii, Sonchus palustris and Agrostemma githago). In support of the nature conservation actions, I provide data from the flora of some floristically understudied micro regions (e.g. Dorozsma-Majsai Sand Ridge, Bácskai Loess Plain) and try to highlight the role of canals in Hungary in species and biodiversity conservation, by the example of the Danube-Tisza canal. In this manuscript, I publish data on twelve protected plant species from the Danube-Tisza canal and its canal bank (eg. Peucedanum palustre, Carex paniculata, Clematis integrifolia).

  • On the former occurrence of Calla palustris in Hungary
    200-210
    Views:
    1700

    The origin of a more than 150 years old herbarium specimen of Calla palustris L. stored in JPU is reconsidered in this study. According to the information on its label, the specimen was collected in 1856 at Lake Velence, close to Székesfehérvár city (central Hungary). Some Hungarian botanists are skeptical about the authenticity of this record. Based on the current occurrences of some remarkable swamp species (e.g. Carex pseudocyperus, Liparis loeselii, Sphagnum spp.) and habitat types (e.g. willow carrs and swamp forests) at the lake, as well as the habitat preference of bog arum, there is no reason to question the former occurrence of the species here or even in other Hungarian localities. The content and accuracy of the examined voucher meet the expectations of floristic data. However, in the absence of recent data the species can be considered extinct from Hungary.

  • Water contraction drives stronger the formation of diatom assemblages in stream than human induced microhabitat-variability
    211-228
    Views:
    205

    Today, climate change, together with other anthropogenic influences is considered as a major threat affecting aquatic ecosystems in several ways. Here, altering water contraction (standing and flowing phases) and human-induced habitat variability (natural and artificial stream sections) were studied as modifying factors driving community changes in benthic diatom assemblages of a Hungarian small lowland stream (Létai-ér). We assumed notable compositional differences between phases and habitats, but we expected these differences to decrease with drying. Moreover, lower diversity was hypothesized in assemblages of both artificial section and flowing phase. While taxonomic composition did not reveal significant differences between the sections, well pronounced compositional changes were found between phases. Surprisingly, no significant diversity changes were observed during water contraction. Compared to the natural microhabitat, however, artificial stream section was found to maintain more diverse diatom community. These results emphasize that modification effects of climate change induced hydrological extremes can lead to remarkable compositional changes in benthic algal assemblages even on a short time scale, that must be taken into account in both water management and nature conservation strategies.

Short communications

  • Data to the distribution and nature conservation of Sorbus bakonyensis
    229-233
    Views:
    1296

    Sorbus bakonyensis (Jáv.) Jáv. (syn. S. majeri Barabits) is an apomictic species with a very narrow distribution range in the Bakony Mts (Hungary). Its previous occurrence data were published only from Kopasz Mt. (~Kápolna Hill, Csordás valley) above the village Márkó. It was possible to slightly expand the known area of the species to the East and to the West (Kis-Bükk Mt) of Kopasz Mt. with a detailed mapping. Due to the number of known individuals (six mature trees and a variable number of seedlings) and its small distribution range (~2 km2) the species is critically endangered. Regarding its small population, the high number of big game (wild boar, red deer) and the more and more frequent drought periods are significant risk factors. In situ preservation of the species is still a realistic goal, but ex situ propagation in tree nurseries and reintroduction to the suitable habitats of the mapped area (clearings, forest edges) are also justified.

  • Vulpia bromoides and Luzula multiflora in the Dráva Plain (S Hungary)
    234-235
    Views:
    1643

    Vital populations of Vulpia bromoides (L.) S. F. Gray and Luzula multiflora Kirsch. were found between Vajszló and Páprád villages (S Hungary) in 25 May 2022. The populations grew in a mesic forest clearing in the territory of “Bükkhát forest”. These species are new for the flora of the Drava Plain. The habitat is demonstrated by a phytosociological relevé.