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Annual Lythrum species in Hungary: revision of the subgenus Hyssopifolia
64–70Views:108Four ephemeral Lythrum species have been recorded from Hungary so far. Lythrum hyssopifolia is widely distributed in the whole country. Most occurrences of L. tribracteatum are located in southeastern Hungary and alongside the Danube. The Central Asian L. linifolium was reported from a single locality (Tiszaug village, E Hungary) in 1954, which is the only European record of this species. However, we have ascertained that the voucher specimen of this record differs from L. linifolium in some morphological traits, but strongly resembles L. borysthenicum that is distributed in the Mediterranean and steppe regions of eastern Europe. Based on our revision we suggest deleting L. linifolium from both Hungarian and European checklists. The former Hungarian occurrence of L. thesioides is confirmed by vouchers.
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Sorbus udvardyana Somlyay & Sennikov in the eastern part of the Balaton Uplands
55-58Views:270Related to distribution of S. aria s.l. × S. torminalis hybrid taxa in the eastern part of the Balaton Uplands just data of „S. balatonica” is in the literature based on collection of Ádám Boros (Kárpáti 1960). In the summer of 2014 the author found and mapped a few (sub)populations of S. aria s.l. × S. torminalis at Lovas (Királykúti-völgy, Atya-hegy, CEU: 8973.4) and Felsőörs (Malom-völgy, Kopasz-tető, CEU: 8973.4) villages. Based on leaf-morphological traits the specimens were identified as S. udvardyana.
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Contributions to the distribution of Arabis nemorensis (Cruciferae) in Hungary
155-169Views:102Arabis nemorensis is a poorly-known species with sparse and mostly uncertain literature records in Hungary. A complete list of its known occurrences was presented in Soó’s synopsis in 1968. A few new records of this taxon have been reported since then. In the present study all literature records were evaluated by means of revision of Hungarian herbarium materials. Several vouchers were succesfully traced, and their identity as A. nemorensis was confirmed (Baja, Ercsi, Lesenceistvánd, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Szigetújfalu). In other cases, the putative vouchers belonged to A. hirsuta or A. sagitatta, thus the corresponding literature records proved to be erroneous (Balatonmáriafürdő-alsó, Gyenesdiás, Kőszeg, Vasboldogasszony, Zalaújlak). On the other hand, hitherto unknown Hungarian localities of A. nemorensis were revealed, specifically in the Bükk Mts. (Eger, Kács), the Bakony Mts. (Márkó), in the western Balaton region (Hahót, Hévíz, Keszthely-Fenékpuszta, Nyirád, Tapolca) and the Hungarian Plains (Csákvár, Debrecen, Egeralja, Fertőd-Eszterháza, Kiskőrös, Lébény, Ócsa, Sárszentmihály, Szigetszentmiklós). The species appeared to be new for the phytogeographical regions Bakonyicum and Nyírségense. Additionally, a few specimens of A. nemorensis collected outside the territory of present-day Hungary were revised in BP. The historical occurrence of the species at Torja (Turia in Romania) is documented by two specimens (Schur, 1853, as A. gerardi; Jávorka & Keller, 1943, as A. hirsuta). Another specimen that was collected in 1879 at Óbecse (Bečej) and labelled as A. glastifolia by Kovács was found to be A. nemorensis too. Since the identity of Schneller’s literature record (1858) from Futak is uncertain, Kovács’s specimen is currently the only, though historical record of this species from Vojvodina province in Serbia. Further specimens of A. nemorensis were discovered in the collections of Lengyel. They were collected and labelled as A. sagittata near Pomogy (Pamhagen) in 1910 (and questionably in 1919), probably representing the first gathering of A. nemorensis from Burgenland state in Austria.
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Dr. Sándor Polgár, my grandfather
185–187.Views:82My grandfather, dr. Sándor Polgár was the second son of a Jewish family the members of which were at home in northwestern Hungary since generations as were the family of his wife Margit Csillag. He attended Benedictine secondary school in Győr and completed his studies at the Faculty of Sciences in Budapest where he got a teaching diploma for sciences at secondary school level. After that he obtained his PhD degree in aquatic plants. Beside science and pedagogy he was also interested in philosophy and music and he spoke fluent German and French. A number of his students became later successful scientists in Hungary and abroad. He was murdered together with my grandmother and a large number of his family members in Auschwitz.
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The Wildflower of the Year campaign in Hungary
349-353Views:102The paper summarizes the previous history and recent purposes of the ‘Wildflower of the Year’ initiation, established in 2011. The main aim of this initiation is the promotion and familiarization of Hungarian flora, applying a public awareness campaign about the beauty, importance and ecological value of our spectacular wild plants. The ’Wildflower of the Year’ is selected by voting on internet (www.evvadviraga.hu). Starting from this volume the journal Kitaibelia publishes a monograph about the wildflower of the previous year.
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Disappearing botanical and cultural heritage of wooden headboard-graveyards in Eastern-Hungary and Transylvania (Romania)
51-64Views:149Degradation or disappearance of natural habitats are global phenomena nowadays, hence the role of small and secondary (seminatural) habitats like cemeteries in preserving natural values are more and more appreciated. The botanical values and burial customs were examined in a total of 51 graveyards in three different regions of Hungary and Romania (10, 19 and 22 graveyards in the North Hungarian Mountains, the Great Hungarian Plain and Transylvania, respectively). Altogether 25 in Hungary legally protected plant species were found, 1.5 protected species per graveyard on average. As we observed, traditional burials with wooden headboards are rapidly superseded by modern burial customs. Based on our non-representative poll (n=102), 90% of citizens on average are satisfied with current conditions in Hungarian graveyards. A two-thirds majority of respondents would prefer more frequent lawn-mowing in graveyards. 75% of respondents prefer modern tombs to traditional graves. Disappearance of old burial customs characterised by the use of wooden headboards (and the simultaneous change in traditional, habitat-friendly practices in graveyards) means not only a loss of cultural values, but threatens the natural biodiversity of graveyards as well.
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Contributions to the flora of the Szuha watershed and adjacent territories (NE Hungary)
27-67Views:289This paper presents new floristic data of 415 taxa from the Putnok Hills and Sajó Valley microregions (Northern Hungary). Records were collected between 1991 and 2021. In the first part new occurrences of legally protected (e.g., Cypripedium calceolus, Iris aphylla subsp. hungarica, Lycopodium clavatum, Thalictrum aquilegiifolium, Pyrola rotundifolia, Scorzonera purpurea, Stipa pulcherrima) and not protected but locally rare or data-deficient species (e.g., Myosurus minimus, Thalictrum simplex, Sisymbrium loeselii, Camelina microcarpa, Potentilla collina, Trifolium striatum, Geranium pratense, G. dissectum, G. divaricatum, Viola pumila, Epilobium roseum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Pimpinella major, Berula erecta, Trinia ramosissima, Centaurium pulchellum, Nepeta cataria, Limosella aquatica, Veronica scutellata, Orobanche arenaria, Utricularia vulgaris, Galium elongatum, Cephalaria transsylvanica, Dipsacus fullonum, Xanthium saccharatum, Alisma lanceolatum, Elodea canadensis, Potamogeton pectinatus, P. berchtoldii, P. lucens, P. nodosus, Zannichellia palustris, Sisyrinchium bermudiana, Melica picta, Elymus elongatus, Leersia oryzoides, Typha laxmannii, Eriochloa villosa) are presented. This chapter contains data on 246 species from which 8 are new for the flora of the Tornense flora region and 47 for its subregion, the Putnok Hills. Further contributions to the distribution data of Atlas Florae Hungariae are presented in Electronic Appendix. This section contains raw occurrence data of 169 species.
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White willow riparian forests along the upper Tisza River, Hungary
78–100Views:111Forests of the Tisza floodplain in the northwestern part of Hungary include white willow riparian forests (Leucojo aestivi-Salicetum albae) that are phytosociologically little studied. This study summarizes the characteristics of this community based on 25 phytosociological relevés. These forests grow mostly on mud and raw alluvial soil in the low-lying parts of the lower terraces of the floodplain. They are easily separated by their species composition and underdeveloped shrub layer from white poplar gallery forests (Senecioni sarracenici-Populetum albae)., which grow on higher lying ground with rather light sandy soil and typically possess a pronounced shrub layer. The understory of their stands may often host plants that are rare or completely absent in other parts of the country, such as Cardamine amara, Cardamine flexuosa, Cardaminopsis arenosa, Carex pseudocyperus, Carex remota, Chrysosplenium alternifolium, Leucanthemella serotina, Leucojum aestivum, Oenanthe banatica, Scrophularia scopolii, Telekia speciosa, Vitis sylvestris. This community is classified in the „Salicenion albae-fragilis Kevey 2008” suballiance.
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White poplar riparian forests on the Csepel-sziget, Middle-Hungary (Senecioni sarracenici-Populetum albae Kevey in Borhidi & Kevey 1996)
57–78Views:189In this paper the white poplar riparian forests (Senecioni sarracenici-Populetum albae) growing on the Csepel-sziget and its vicinity are described and characterized based on 25 phytosociological relevés. These communities grow on loose fluvial sand and raw alluvial soils on the elevated parts of the lower river floodplain. They can readily be distinguished from willow gallery forests (Leucojo aestivi-Salicetum albae) which have no shrub layers and grow in habitats 1–1.5 m below the level of poplar forests on rather heavy and muddy soils. They differ also from the oak-ash-elm forests (Scillo vindobonensis-Ulmetum) growing in the upper floodplain. Certain – partly submontane – plants that are rare or completely absent in other parts of the Great Hungarian Plains may also occur in them, such as Anemone ranunculoides, Carex remota, Clematis recta, Crataegus × degenii, Crataegus nigra, Epipactis helleborine, Equisetum hyemale, Galanthus nivalis, Lathraea squamaria, Leucojum aestivum, Paris quadrifolia, Scilla vindobonensis, Vitis sylvestris. This association is classified in the sub-alliance Populenion nigro-albae Kevey 2008 in the syntaxonomical system.
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The herbarium of Debrecen University (DE) I. The “Rezső Soó Herbarium”
142-155Views:166The paper introduces the herbarium of Debrecen University (DE). All specimens of the herbarium were documented by digital photographs, and all data from the labels were entered into an Excel spreadsheet. The largest collection of Herbarium DE, the “Soó Rezső Herbarium” (abbreviation: SRH) consists of ca. 38.000 specimens from almost all European countries, but mainly from Hungary and the neighbouring countries. Most of the specimens originate from Hajdú-Bihar, Pest, Győr-Moson-Sopron, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Veszprém and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg counties. The SRH stores a considerable amount of original/authentic specimens collected by Hungarian botanists, primarily by Rezső Soó and his followers, as well as Sándor Polgár. The most rapid growth of the SRH took place in the first half of the last century (1930–1950). By contrast, the collection was practically not developed between 1955 and 2000. After the millennium it started to grow again. Data on the most substantial part of the SRH covering native plants collected in the present-day Hungary are summarized in Electronic Appendix 1. (incl. taxon name, settlement, collecting date, collector, file name of documentary photograph).
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The herbarium of the Botanical Garden of Eötvös Loránd University (BPU)
55–59Views:207The paper introduces the herbarium of Eötvös Loránd University (BPU), currently stored at the Botanical Garden of the University, according to its state in the year 2013. The BPU herbarium consists of ca. 16 000 specimens the relevant data of which have been organised into an OpenOffice Calc spreadsheet database. The specimens were collected in 16 European countries, mainly in the current territory of Hungary (80%), Romania (12%) and Slovakia (5%). Other countries are represented with very few specimens. The vast majority (ca. 70%) of the Hungarian specimens were collected in Pest, Veszprém, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Hajdú-Bihar and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg counties. Although the gatherings cover a century and a half period of time, the most rapid growth of the collection took place from the 1930s to the 1960s. The most prolific collectors were Rezső Soó and his followers: Lajos Felföldy, Tibor Simon and Szaniszló Priszter. Felföldy and Simon enriched the collection through more than 60 years. Data on the native plants collected in the present-day Hungary are summarized in Electronic Appendix 1. (incl. taxon name, settlement, collecting year, collector, file name of documentary photograph).
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Remnants of closed oak woods on loess in the Mezőföld (Pulmonario mollis-Quercetum roboris Kevey 2008)
66–93Views:159The phytosociological characterization of closed oak forests occurring in the loess-covered part of Central Hungary (Mezőföld) is presented. Such forest fragments are found very sporadically in that predominantly treeless region, mostly in semi-dry habitats of north-facing hillsides. This plant community represents an intermediate stage between open steppe woodland (Aceri tatarici-Quercetum pubescentis-roboris) and closed mesic oak-hornbeam forests (Corydali cavae-Carpinetum). Analyses of 20 phytosociological samples using multivariate grouping methods (cluster analysis, principal coordinates analysis) showed a clear difference between these samples and samples of similar communities occurring in the area. In the species composition the characteristic elements of dry and mesic oak forests (Quercetea pubescentis-petraeae, Quercetalia cerridis, Aceri tatarici-Quercion and Fagetalia, respectively) played a major role. On the other hand, dry grassland species (Festuco-Brometea, Festucetalia valesiacae, Festucion rupicolae, etc.) were much less significant than in steppe woodlands. In terms of chorology, European and sub-Mediterranean floristic elements were dominant in the samples, while the proportion of continental elements was substantially smaller than that in steppe woodlands. As a result, our samples were identified with the plant association Pulmonario mollis-Quercetum roboris Kevey 2008, which is classified into the suballiance Polygonato latifolio-Quercenion roboris Kevey 2008 in the phytosociological system.
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Oak-ash-elm forests in the Nyírség
179-220Views:131This paper presents phytosociological analyses of oak-ash-elm forests of Nyírség, NE Hungary. These climatically azonal forests grow in habitats where the soil is under the continual influence of the groundwater table, which maintains rather mesic conditions. They are particularly rich in Fagetalia elements (Actaea spicata, Allium ursinum, Anemone ranunculoides, Asarum europaeum, Athyrium filix-femina, Cardamine bulbifera, Carex pilosa, Cerastium sylvaticum, Chaerophyllum aromaticum, Corydalis cava, Dryopteris filix-mas, Epipactis helleborine agg., Euphorbia amygdaloides, Galeobdolon luteum, Galium odoratum, Hedera helix, Isopyrum thalictroides, Lathraea squamaria, Lathyrus vernus, Lilium martagon, Majanthemum bifolium, Mercurialis perennis, Milium effusum, Polygonatum multiflorum, Pulmonaria officinalis, Ranunculus cassubicus, Salvia glutinosa, Sanicula europaea, Scilla vindobonensis, Stachys sylvatica, Stellaria holostea etc.) typical in the submontane regions of this part of Europe. It is possible that they are remnants of the vegetation dominating the region under the less continental and more moist climate during the Beech phase (2500–800 BC) of the Holocene.
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Contributions to the flora of Baranya and Tolna counties III.
39-50Views:128During the last four years (2014–2017) that have passed since my last publication, I have been collecting 25 000 new floristic data for the territory of the Danube–Drava National Park. The most valuable and interesting records of 116 taxa are presented here, e.g. those of the strictly protected Digitalis ferruginea and Paeonia banatica, and the protected species Polystichum lonchitis, Dryopteris affinis, Doronicum orientale, Helleborus dumetorum, Corydalis intermedia, Spiraea media, Veratrum nigrum. New records of not protected but rare species, such as Lycopsis arvensis, Silene dichotoma, Teucrium botrys, Thladiantha dubia, Vicia lutea, Hypochoeris radicata are also enumerated. Some curiosities are mentioned as well, including the sizes of the biggest (and probably the oldest) Crataegus monogyna, Hedera helix, Ruscus hypoglossum and Ruscus aculeatus individuals that were found during my field work.
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New montane species in the Hungarian bryophyte flora
16-26Views:652During a bryofloristical investigation in the vicinity of Ómassa (Miskolc) in the Bükk Mountains (NE Hungary), three montane-boreal bryophyte species new to the Hungarian bryoflora were collected. Encalypta spathulata Müll.Hal. was found on the ledges of limestone cliffs of Vörös-kő Hill as well as on the rocky debris among roots of a fallen tree lying under the cliffs. Hydrogonium croceum (Brid.) Jan Kučera and Orthothecium rufescens (Dicks. ex Brid.) Schimp. were found in the crevices of dolomite cliffs on the north-facing steep slope of Jávor Hill. While the latter two species are widespread in European Mountains, E. spathulata is considered to be a rare species, and is assessed as ‘Vulnerable’ in the IUCN red list.
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Contributions to the flora of Budapest and its surroundings II.
33–50Views:191New and recently confirmed localities of 52 rare taxa (including 26 orchids) are presented from the vicinity of Budapest. Epipactis peitzii is a new species for the Hungarian flora; it has been recorded in the Buda and Pilis Mts. This species and its closest relatives (E. leptochila group) are briefly discussed. Other records are new for the flora of particular regions, specifically: Buda Mts: Corydalis intermedia, Epipactis leptochila, Epipactis muelleri; Pilis Mts: Anacamptis coriophora, Epipactis neglecta, E. tallosii, Valerianella pumila; Visegrád Mts: Epipactis futakii, E. leptochila, E. muelleri, E. neglecta, Ophrys apifera, O. holubyana.
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The Wildflower of the Year 2014 in Hungary: Siberian flag (Iris sibirica L.)
268-285Views:150In this paper a review of the nomenclature, etymology, taxonomy, morphology, histology, life cycle, phenology, reproduction, habitat preference, biotic interactions, biologically active compounds, micropropagation, application possibilities and conservation status of Siberian flag (Iris sibirica L.) can be found. Leaf traits, phenological data, seed-set, thousand-seed weight, germination, growth rate and soil characteristic data are published based on original observations:
- Leaf area is between 25,3 and 52,9 cm2, its dry mass is 232 and 272 mg/g, specific leaf area is 14,5 and 15,0 m2/kg; based on measurement of 5–5 leaves of sibirica, collected from Tapolca and Létavértes (Hungary) in May of 2014.
- Based on herbarium dataset, blooming of sibirica begins at the end of April and lasts to early-July, contrary to the literature data (May–June).
- Capsules contain (0–)58–76(–121) fertile seeds. (20–)60–80(–90)% of ovules develops to (seemingly) viable seeds, meanwhile the other ovules remain as aborted ones or develop to infertile seeds (probably because of absence of resources); based on fruits collected from Regéc (Hungary) in 2014 and 2015.
- Thousand-seed weight of sibirica is 8,8298–11,2914 g (based on 3×100–100 seeds collected from Regéc and Tapolca in 2014 and 2015), which is lower value than the literature data.
- In our germination test (50–50 seeds sowed to wet soil, after different treatments) 14% of scarified seeds, 6% of scalded seeds, 4–4% of imbibed and control seeds, 0–0% of cooled and refrigerated seeds are germinated. Scarified seeds germinated in the 8–26th days, imbibed seeds 15–19th days, control seeds 16–20th days, scalded seeds 20–23th days after sowing. It seems that scarification stimulates, meanwhile temperature-treatments inhibit the germination. Until 18 weeks the seedlings grow to 30 cm (in mean) and develop 5–7 leaves (in mean). After the 14th week, the first and littlemost lateral leaves are necrosed.
- Analyses of soil samples collected from 17 locations of sibirica in Hungary, suggest that the species prefers highly acidic to slightly alcalic, lime-free to highly calcareous soils with generally high amount of humus and clay, different amount of phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen and low concentration of salt.
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A new alien species in Hungary: Limnobium laevigatum (Hydrocharitaceae)
9-15Views:245The South American Spongeplant (Limnobium laevigatum (Humb. & Bonpl. ex. Willd.) Heine) is a floating aquatic plant native to freshwater habitats of tropical and subtropical Central and South America. It is frequently used for ornamental purposes in ponds and aquariums, and became invasive in the recent decades around the world. It has a high reproductive potential and a high dispersal capacity as well. It can form massive floating mats causing light limitation and creating anoxic conditions in the underlying water column, which strongly reduces native animal and plant biomass and diversity. It can also hamper navigation and water flow in rivers and canals. It has been introduced to the United States, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Zambia and Zimbabwe. There is only one previous record in Europe (Belgium). This article is about the first record of Limnobium laevigatum in Hungary. I found two localities situated near Tata-Naszály and Dunaalmás (North-western part of Hungary). Both localities are fed by hot-water springs. It forms a small but dense population in Dunaalmás located near to the hot spring. The population in Tata-Naszály can be found in a 1.3 km long section of a stream, where it formed a sparse population in 2018.