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Ceratocephala testiculata (Crantz) Roth and further data to the flora of the foothills of Bükk Mts.('Bükkalja', NE Hungary)
81-142Views:238This paper reports new floristic data of 367 taxa (365 species and two hybrids) from the foothill region of Bükk Mts. ('Bükkalja', NE-Hungary) based on 5470 field collected data records. The data was collected between 1997–2014 and supplemented with herbaria (altogether 344 herbaria sheets). Data evaluation was based on the comprehensive Bükk Flora of András Vojtkó and further papers. Altogether 45 species were registered as previously unreported from the area, whereas three species had old data (Acer negundo, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Xanthium strumarium). Out of the newly registered species six native species inhabits natural habitats (Carex flacca, Ceratocephala testiculata, Glycerrhiza echinata, Gypsophila paniculata, Kochia laniflora, Marrubium vulgare), whereas five species represents the weed flora (Anthemis ruthenica, Chenopodium ficifolium, Eragrostis pilosa, Senecio vernalis, Xanthium strumarium). The majority of the newly observed species are adventives. Five species were also regarded as recent introduction regionally, although they are native in the country (mostly lowland species: Crypsis alopecuroides, Limonium gmelini subsp. hungaricum, Salsola kali, Scirpoides holoschoenus, Trifolium angulatum). Typical threats observed are landscape and habitat degradation by invasive alien species out of which 11 are newly added. Mass occurrences were detected for the following invasive alien species: Bidens frondosa, Impatiens glandulifera, Phytolacca esculenta, Xanthium italicum. 43 species are also registered, which did not have recently published data from the area. These species include more native elements representing different habitat preferences (dry grasslands, wet meadows, forest and weeds). In case of 65 species the unravelled new occurrences increased significantly, thus contributed to the clarification of their distribution pattern. It was found that the floristic data accumulated on a decade-scale are not sufficient for the analysis of floristic trends, but could serve as a good basis for surveying floristic gradients between the mountainous and lowland areas.
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Taxonomic revision of alien Ludwigia species in Hungary
153–164Views:298Some tropical Ludwigia species have been planted as ornamentals in Hungarian thermal springs since the 1920s. Although they have become naturalised or even invasive in a few places, their specific identity remained generally uncertain. Our herbarium and field studies revealed that three species of alien water-primroses occur in Hungary. The most frequently planted one is Ludwigia repens, which is, however, a sporadic species in its native distribution area. We have found this species in several parts of the country. Although a few escaped and self-sustaining populations were also observed, this species has appeared to be non-invasive so far. Ludwigia grandiflora appeared in Hungary at the beginning of the 2000s. At the moment it is known from three localities, though spreading rapidly, becoming already invasive in its locality at Tata city. A similar species, L. peploides has recently been reported from two localities, where it forms small stands; the success of its naturalisation can be assessed in the future. We found no evidence for the Hungarian occurrence of L. alterniflora that had been published from Eger city. Therefore we suggest deleting this species from the current Hungarian checklist.
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Spreading along the railways: morphology and invasion success of Vulpia ciliata in Hungary
145–156Views:524Vulpia ciliata Dumort, a widespread species in the Mediterranean region, has been introduced in several European countries in recent decades, mainly along railways. The species was first discovered in Hungary at Szolnok railway station in May 2016, then a few days later at Keleti railway station in Budapest. In 2020 the species was found in several Transdanubian railway stations. Apparently, V. ciliata has recently been established in numerous parts of the country, probably spreading by railway transport. Until now, the species has only been found in the vicinity of regularly used tracks (in a distance of 20 m at the most). Being an invasive alien species, V. ciliata can displace the native Vulpia myuros in ruderal vegetation along railway lines. The species can easily be distinguished from V. myuros by its hairy lemma. Moreover, it flowers earlier than the other two indigenous species in Hungary, often already in late April. Based on the characteristics examined (number of nodes in the upper 2 cm zone of the rachis, number of fruits per spikelet, rate of fertile and sterile florets within the spikelet, lower and upper glume length, lemma and awn length separately, rachis width in the upper 2 cm zone) we have concluded that V. bromoides and V. myuros are less different from each other than V. ciliata from these two species. In the case of V. ciliata subsp. ciliata, we observed that spikelets (detached from the inflorescens) function as dispersal units. Therefore we assume that the observed low fertility rate within the spikelets, as well as the presence of marginal cilia on lemmas promote the spreading success of V. ciliata (spreading in clusters, anemochory, zoochory, anthropochory). Its early maturation (in May) can also facilitate its spread along railways, because the populations survive the chemical weed control usually carried out in late spring. The other two Hungarian species usually ripen later (in June). For the time being, the spread of V. ciliata outside the Hungarian railway network may be hindered by climatic conditions, or by the lack of seasonal weed control outside that network, which otherwise offers a relative survival advantage for V. ciliata along railway tracks.
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The purple viper's bugloss (Echium plantagineum), a new adventive species for Hungary
199-206Views:898Following global trends, the number of newly established alien plant species is increasing in Hungary. Not only professional scientists but also citizens could contribute to the discovery and documentation of new occurrences. One of the first records of the purple viper’s bugloss (Echium plantagineum L.) in Hungary originate from an online group dealing with wild plant species identification. This species is native in Western Mediterranean countries, and is introduced to other continents. In Australia, it is a well-spread, largely problematic invasive species, and it might show similar tendencies in Hungary as well. In order to acquaint the wider public with this species, we present its morphology, phenology and other characteristics and provide a possible inlay in the Hungarian identification key.
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Data to the flora of Southern-Nyírség and its surroundings
68–85Views:1728In this paper we provide data on the flora of Monostorpályi, a floristically underrepresented settlement in South-Nyírség and Berettyó–Kálló interfluve, and publish some interesting floristic observations from the Debrecen city area. In our compilation we provide data on 58 plant species. Among the species listed in the enumeration we find taxa from the region not previously reported at all (Lathyrus nissolia, Gagea villosa, Catabrosa aquatica, Potamogeton lucens, P. pusillus). In total, we publish new occurrence data for 16 protected plant species, which are generally typical of the natural habitats of the Nyírség, but are on the decline overall (e.g. Hottonia palustris, Dianthus superbus, Cirsium rivulare, Lychnis coronaria). We also provide data on the distribution of some rare or declining weed species (Anthemis cotula, Myagrum perfoliatum, Agrostemma githago) and confirm the previously known occurrence of some poorly known plant species (Luzula pallidula, Carex hordeistichos). Furthermore, the spread of some alien species (Broussonetia papyrifera, Phyllostachys sp.) is also highlighted.
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Multiclavula mucida (Basidiomycota) and other cryptogamic taxa in the Hungarian flora
173–184Views:324The paper deals with the species found during cryptogamic flora mapping in 2023 that are remarkable from a floristic, taxonomic or conservational point of view. We present data from the Bükk Mts of two Trapeliopsis species which appear to be rare in Hungary. Multiclavula mucida, which is apparently a rare basidiomycete lichen species in Europe that prefers humid, montane habitats was discovered in the Mecsek Mts as a new species for the Hungarian flora. Of the knothole moss, Anacamptodon splachnoides, which is now thought to be entomophilic, we communicate the only extant population from Southern Transdanubia. We report the first occurrence of the atlantic-mediterranean Leptodon smithii from the Hungarian side of the Great Hungarian Plain. Numerous data of the corticole Neckera pennata indicate that in Hungary the distributional centre of this species is situated in the county of Baranya in the lowlands. New data from the Bükk Mts underline that in the Pannonian region Buxbaumia viridis is primarily a terricole species of acidophilous beech forests. We communicate the first occurrence from the lowlands of the alien lignicolous Sematophyllum adnatum which is dangerously spreading in Europe, at the same time one of the most vigorous populations in the Pannonian region. The third Hungarian occurrence of Callicladium haldanianum, a species that seems to spread in bogs, as well as the second occurrence of Racomitrium lanuginosum, growing abundantly on an andesite boulder scree in Mátra Mts, are also reported here. Of Phegopteris connectilis we present in photographic documentation the first extant population from Southern Transdanubia, and we discuss whether the first publication from Mecsek Mts is correct or exact. In addition to listing the floristic data, we also briefly discuss the (mis)use of distribution data in the context of climate change, the difficulties of distinguishing the microtaxa of some pteridophytes, e.g. Asplenium adiantum-nigrum agg. and Dryopteris affinis agg., and we correct one of our previously published, erroneous Hedwigia stellata data. Some interesting data of other taxa (such as Leucobryum glaucum, Palustriella commutata, Tetraphis pellucida, Gymnocarpium robertianum, Ophioglossum vulgatum) are also mentioned in the paper.
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Contributions to the escaped, naturalised and potentially invasive species of the Hungarian adventive flora
111-156Views:609In this paper we compiled data on 157 Hungarian adventive plant species – of which 65 had not been reported from the country previously – from 47 settlements of Transdanubia and the Great Hungarian Plain. These taxa are rare, interesting or not included in the most recent list of the Hungarian neophyte species. The list includes data about many rare, occasionally escaping species (e.g. Lagurus ovatus, Salvia coccinea), taxa considered incapable of reproduction under the recent climatic conditions of the Pannonian Basin (e.g. Cupressus sempervirens, Punica granatum) or naturalised plants that may become invasive in the future (e.g. Celtis sinensis, Lonicera japonica). In the outlook we highlighted some special urban habitats (e.g. private and botanical gardens) and practices (e.g. public green space management) that endanger the native flora. We also describe their role in promoting the appearance and the expansion of alien plant species, and processes (e.g. laurophyllisation, spread of thermophile species) that will become increasingly common in the future as a result of climate change.
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Asparagus verticillatus L. in Hungary
38-43Views:183Climbing asparagus (Asparagus verticillatus L.) a new adventive species to the Hungarian flora was recently discovered in the city of Pécs (South Hungary) in 2011–2012. Taxonomy, morphological description and current localities of the species are presented in this paper. A. verticillatus is a mediterranean-submediterranean species native in Balkan Peninsula, Eastern Europe, Western- and Middle Asia. The species is a popular ornamental plant in Hungary, but no data was available about its escape or naturalisation in the country so far. Herbarium specimens from Hungary were collected so far mostly from botanical and private gardens; only one specimen was collected in a dry grassland along a roadside in the city, respectively. The newly discovered small populations are located mostly in secondary dry grasslands, at the edges of vineyards and private gardens on the southern slopes of the Mecsek Mts and only one specimen was found far from the residential area in natural vegetation. Because climbing asparagus is a frequently planted ornamental plant in several locations of Pécs, further escape, naturalisation and persistence of the species is possible in the future.
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Contributions to the Atlas Florae Hungariae VIII.
238-261Views:258The 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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Data to the flora of Hungary I.
254-259Views:80The paper gives new floristic data from several regions of Hungary. Some of them are recent evidences of old data (e.g. Herniaria incana in Pomáz), others are new occurrences of recently expanding alien species (e.g. Eleusine indica, Geranium purpureum, Typha laxmannii), casual species (e.g. Lobularia maritima, Nepeta racemosa) or legally protected taxa (e.g. Agrostemma githago, Ornithogalum brevistylum, Ranunculus illyricus, Sonchus palustris).
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Data on the occurrence of alien plants in Western Transdanubia (Hungary)
185–188Views:1023In his publication the author provides data on the occurrence of 11 alien species in Western Transdanubia. Three of these species (Euphorbia maculata, Euphorbia peplus, Muscari armeniacum) were observed to have spread rapidly in the past decade. It can be concluded that 4 species (Artemisia annua, Crocus banaticus, Polycarpon tetraphyllum, Veronica filiformis) have reached a state which is close to naturalization, while the other reported species (Euphorbia lathyris, Senecio inaequidens, Silybum marianum, Veronica peregrina) are casual in this region at present.
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Data on spreading cultivated species in Hungarian botanical gardens
62–78Views:378Our article provides data of 186 spreading cultivated taxa in Hungary. Among these, the spreading of 40 species in botanical gardens was not known until now. During our work, we examined the arboretums of Tiszakürt, Szarvas and Erdőtelek, the agrobotanical garden of Tápiószele (located in the National Centre for Biodiversity and Gene Conservation), the botanical garden of the Eszterházy Károly Catholic University in Eger and the De la Motte Castle Park in Noszvaj. We collected further data on the lately identified Cardamine occulta and the spreading Veronica peregrina taxa, which spread mainly through plants sold in pots. Besides the already known two Juglans species, we found four new potentially spreading ones from the family of Juglandaceae (Carya cordiformis, C. ovata, Juglans cinerea and J. microcarpa). We also found seedlings and saplings in the case of all the investigated Abies species. We found the seventh Hungarian occurrence of Ludwigia grandiflora in the artificial lake of the Arboretum of Szarvas. The quantity of new occurrences reported in this paper highlights the need for further research in living collections in Hungarian botanical gardens.
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Additions to the flora of Jászság (Central Hungary)
21–30Views:327Within the framework of the Hungarian Flora Mapping Program, nine quadrants were surveyed in the territory of Jászság in 2012 and 2020. Regionally important floristic records of 68 vascular plant species are presented in this paper. Some of them are aliens (e.g., Alopecurus myosuroides, Amaranthus deflexus, Juncus tenuis, Phytolacca esculenta) or rare native weeds (e.g., Aegilops cylindrica, Bupleurum affine, Myagrum perfoliatum). Records of regionally (e.g., Coronopus squamatus, Linaria biebersteinii) or nationwide (Silene bupleuroides) rare native species as well as indicators of former forests (e.g., Clematis recta, Elymus caninus, Melica altissima, Sisymbrium strictissimum) are also presented. An interesting road edge rich in saline species (Artemisia santonicum, Chenopodium chenopodioides, Hordeum hystrix, Plantago maritima) is discussed in detail.
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Contributions to knowledge on the distribution of nine adventive or invasive algae species in Hungary
11-21Views:128Hungarian records of nine adventive or invasive algae [Didymosphenia geminata, Nitzschia closterium, Reimeria sinuata, Navicula schroeteri, Pleurosira laevis (Bacillariophyceae); Pediastrum simplex (Chlorophyceae), Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, Cuspidothrix issatschenkoi, Sphaerospermopsis aphanizomenoides (Cyanobacteria)] are presented. Navicula schroeteri Meister is a new species for the Hungarian flora. Although the observed distribution patterns of these species were very different, the increasing frequency of their appearance indicates significant effect of climate change on abiotic environment of inland waters, such as the increase in water temperature, increase in salt concentration, and eutrophication. The significance of continuous biomonitoring is emphasized, which, through the recognition of natural and human-induced changes in species composition of algae, or the appearance and rapid expansion of non-indigenous species, can detect environmental changes of inland waters.
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Contributions to the flora of railway-side pioneer habitats on Tiszántúl region
86–101Views:436Verges have considerable importance to preserve diversity in arable landscape. The modernized railway embankments are a great surface to the spread of native pioneer or adventive (invasive) plant species. The new data are about the flora of railway embankments mainly from Tiszántúl region. I present some species found on railway verges (e.g. Equisetum ×moorei, Equisetum ramosissimum, Lycopsis arvensis, Euphorbia maculata, Lepidium densiflorum Tragus racemosus, Vulpia myuros). An especially important new data is the refinding of Galium humifusum in Hungary. Locally non-native and adventive species can use the blanketing materials (sand or gravel) of railway embankments as dispersal corridor and colonize them. The railwayside habitats could contribute to the conservation of rare native pioneer species.
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Two new adventive species from the Rubiaceae family in Hungary
286–296Views:197Two alien species from the Rubiaceae family were recorded as new for Hungary in 2016. Phuopsis stylosa is a rarely used garden plant in Europe, originally occurs in south-west Asia. A small escaped and established stand was found in Csákánydoroszló village in Vas County (West Hungary). Also a small group of Galium murale was discovered in Budapest-Keleti Railway Station (Central Hungary). This species is originated from the Mediterranean and probably spreads by rail transport. Both species are represented in their habitats by small populations therefore their invasiveness can only be evaluated after several years' monitoring.
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A new alien species to the Hungarian flora: Polypogon viridis (Gouan) Breistr.
165–172Views:167Polypogon viridis (Gouan) Bresitr., a new alien species to the Hungarian flora, was detected between the years 2016–2019. Water bent (P. viridis), originating from the Mediterranean basin, was recorded from several plant nurseries and outdoor flowerpots in Transdanubia, Hungary. The new Hungarian records fit into the observed phenomenon that ornamental plant trade is an important factor in the spread of this species. Morphological characterization and insertion of P. viridis into the Hungarian identification key are also provided in this paper. Since P. viridis was represented in large numbers at some of the Hungarian localities, future monitoring of its spread may be important to evaluate the invasiveness of the species in the country.
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Contributions to the Atlas Florae Hungariae IX.
253–256Views:332The current paper is the 9th in the series aiming to provide new data to the distribution maps of Atlas Florae Hungariae. Data of 734 vascular plant taxa (from 222 flora mapping quadrats) are presented in this study. The new localities are spread across nearly the entire country; however, most of the data are from the North Hungarian Mts, the northern part of the Danube-Tisza Interfluve, the southern edge of Hanság, alongside River Maros and the Hortobágy. Altogether, 1632 new data records are presented in this paper. The list mainly contains rare and locally important native species, as well as species with uncertain native/alien status (e.g. Allium ursinum, Chamaecytisus triflorus, Cotoneaster niger, Cyperus pannonicus, Elatine triandra, Eleocharis acicularis, Eleocharis ovata, Erodium hoefftianum, Geranium lucidum, Globularia punctata, Hippuris vulgaris, Hottonia palustris, Lindernia procumbens, Marrubium vulgare, Ononis pusilla, Orobanche bartlingii, Orobanche cernua, Pisum elatius, Polycnemum majus, Polygonum graminifolium, Ribes nigrum, Schoenoplectus triqueter, Verbascum ×denudatum, Verbascum ×vidavense, Viola canina subsp. schultzii). We report new localities of expanding alien species (e.g. Amaranthus deflexus, Artemisia annua, Euphorbia maculata, Helminthia echioides, Hordeum jubatum, Impatiens glandulifera, Ipomoea purpurea, Mahonia aquifolium, Panicum riparium, Robinia viscosa, Rudbeckia hirta, Veronica peregrina, Yucca filamentosa) and mention a few rare, successfully “surviving” alien plants with nature conservation value (e.g. Acorus calamus, Monochoria korsakowii). Moreover, occurrences of common plants are presented when new to the Atlas Floraea Hungariae (e.g. Bromus hordeaceus, Symphytum officinale, Vicia tetrasperma).
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Cyperus odoratus in Hungary
157–164Views:331Eleven species of the genus Cyperus have been reported from Hungary so far, of which 3 are certainly aliens. A small population of C. odoratus, new for the flora of Hungary, was found along the River Danube near Foktő settlement (Bács-Kiskun County, S Hungary) in late autumn of 2019. On this occasion blooming specimens were observed in the floodplain ruderal vegetation on the bank of a fork of the Danube. This species is widespread in the tropical and subtropical regions of the World, and was first introduced to Europe in the early 1950s. More recently it has been spreading along certain rivers of Italy and Spain. It was discovered along the river Danube in Romania in the early 1990s, and later at the upper parts of the river in Bulgaria, Croatia and Serbia. Its introduction into Hungary is connected with the Danube, too. Based on foreign experience, it is probable that C. odoratus will be spreading along the Hungarian Danube system, hopefully, not as an invasive species.
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Escaping of Euphorbia myrsinites from cultivation in Eger (E Hungary)
253–256Views:170Euphorbia myrsinites L. (Euphorbiaceae) is a well-known ornamental plant with native distribution around the Mediterranean Basin, the Black Sea, the Caucasus region and Minor Asia. Its escape from cultivation and its naturalization in Western and Central Europe as well as in North America was reported in many cases. In Hungary, the casual escape of E. myrsinites has been documented more than fifty years ago and new observations were recently reported from different regions of the country. Here, I discuss a new record of the species from the town of Eger (E Hungary). The obtained data allow considering E. myrsinites as a locally naturalized species in the flora of Hungary. According to standardized criteria, the species may be able for local invasions too, but further observations are needed to accurately determine its present status in Hungary.
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Occurrence and habitat conditions of Gagea minima along the Sorok stream (W Hungary)
189–194Views:207Gagea minima (L.) Ker Gawl. is a Eurasian bulbous species. It occurs sporadically in Hungary, but so far only one current occurrence is known from the Western Transdanubia. In recent years, a large metapopulation has been found in a 15 km long section of the Sorok stream. Its habitat is the high sandy bank above the stream, where it lives mostly in nitrophilous vegetation under non-native tree species. Its long-term persistence in this secondary habitat may have been facilitated by its bulbs, which may have been regularly dispersed by periodic disturbance. Myrmecochory may also have played a role in the local establishment of subpopulations. A number of recently found populations indicate that data on the distribution of the species is still incomplete. The lack of data is probably due to its short flowering period and relative inconspicuousness. Gagea minima is considered a valuable relict species in the altered environment of the Sorok stream and its surroundings.
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Lactuca tatarica (Asteraceae), a new species for the Hungarian alien flora
170-178Views:150The first occurrence of blue lettuce (Lactuca tatarica (L.) C.A. Mey.) is reported from Hungary. Information on its taxonomy, morphology, distribution, habitat preference and nature conservation aspects is presented. The European local spread of this Eurasian and North American species started at the end of the 1800s. The first localities were reported from the shores of the Baltic and North Sea. Its alien occurrences in inland European regions have been noticed since the 1920s. As L. tatarica have previously been known from the neighbouring territories of Slovakia and Austria, its appearance in Hungary is not at all unexpected. However, the species was found (August 2018) in the southern part of Csongrád county, i.e. far away from the above-mentioned countries. Due to the species’ habitat preference (ruderal ground), ecological requirements and successful vegetative propagation, which correspond to foreign observations, its future spread is highly probable.
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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:91Some 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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Floristic data from the northern edge of the floristic region ‘Crisicum’ (NE Hungary)
275-294Views:183This paper reports new floristic data of 161 taxa. Most of these data were collected between 2011–2013, and are coming from the northern edge of the floristic region 'Crisicum', the NE part of the Great Hungarian Plain, which is a little-known area from a floristic point of view. 43 CEU quarterquadrates and territory of 35 settlements are represented by the dataset. The paper reports occurrence localities for legally protected (e.g. Ophioglossum vulgatum, Stellaria palustris, Ranunculus polyphyllus, Thlaspi jankae, Lathyrus palustris, Elatine spp., Lycopsis arvensis, Lindernia procumbens, Cirsium brachycephalum, Cyperus pannonicus), strictly protected (Armoracia macrocarpa, Vicia biennis) and some little-known (e.g. Cardamine parviflora, Reseda luteola, Melilorus dentatus, Veronica catenata) taxa. Numerous data of alien species (e.g. Lepidium densiflorum, Euphorbia maculata, Sicyos angulatus, Erechtites hieracifolia, Elodea nuttallii, Elymus elongatus, Eleusine indica, Sorghum halepense, Eriochloa villosa) are also published. The most important data are documented by voucher specimens deposited in herbarium of Debrecen University (DE).
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The role of soil seed bank in restoration and dynamics of Hungarian plant communities
116-135Views:133Soil seed bank has an important role in maintaining plant populations and communities, in regeneration processes, and also provides information about the history of the studied site, the past land use practices, the biotic and abiotic changes and about the current degradation degree. In Hungary there are many researchers related to the seed bank, but from the last few years we do not have a comprehensive work about the results of these works. My goal is to report on the results of former seed bank researches in Hungary and also to highlight the missing topics and further research opportunities. The review is based on 49 articles, the oldest one dates back to 1922, the newest one was published in 2015. Most of the studies use greenhouse or laboratory germination tests to determine the viability of seeds. The earliest studies, which examined the weed seed bank of farmland soils found, that the seed bank was much higher than the total seed bank found on natural and semi-natural habitats studied later. Researchers found the lowest seed bank density in forests. Disturbed sites and former agricultural sites had higher seed bank densities than sites without agricultural use. Most part of seed bank was located in the upper soil layer in all studied communities. In most studies usually a small similarity was detected between the composition of soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation, which suggests that the seed bank has a subordinate role in regeneration processes. Seed bank type classification is lacking from the three-quarter of Hungarian flora species, despite that it is essential for protecting species and communities and for developing proper protection against invasive and alien species.