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The Sea milkwort (Glaux maritima) in the Carpathian Basin
10-20Views:327Sea milkwort (Glaux maritima L.) is a broadly distributed species in the northern hemisphere, inhabiting primarily maritime habitats from the arctic to the temperate zones. It is also found inland in semi-arid and arid regions with saline soils. Its status in the Carpathian Basin has become very uncertain owing to the lack of known extant populations. To evaluate its current status, I review all known occurrences within the Carpathian Basin where this species has been recorded or collected, and report five new localities of the species in Hungary, all in the western part of the Great Hungarian Plain. I also analyze habitat relationships of the species using traditional phytosociological relevés. Review of species distribution data in the Carpathian Basin revealed that sea milkwort has undergone severe reduction in population number and disappeared from many localities. Currently, only a few populations can be found in this region: the Northern Carpathians in Slovakia and the western part of the Great Plain in Hungary. In Transylvania (Romania), only a single population has been reported recently suggesting the critical status of the species there. Features of the habitats confirm the halophytic nature of the species and its fidelity to wet saline meadows. Its common accompanying species are mostly broadly distributed, salt-tolerant plants. Heterogeneity of the samples in species composition suggests that sea milkwort is not a habitat-specialist species. Several of its common associates in Hungary are also found in sea milkwort habitats in Mongolia, Asia and Utah, North America. Based on the available evidence, sea milkwort shall be considered a severely threatened plant in the Carpathian Basin. Characteristics of the vegetation in its habitats do not explain its occurrence in mountainous environments.
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Contributions to the algal flora of a recently-formed peat moss bog near Kőszeg (W Hungary)
113–130Views:379The Alsó-erdő peat bog near Kőszeg has undergone a significant transformation since its first mention in the literature. In addition to the original single patch, a smaller one appeared a few decades later. The process did not stop and a third unit, discussed here, was formed. The succession of its macrovegetation towards the typical peat moss association started slowly but surely, due to balanced water regime and other optimal environmental conditions. The process is more advanced for the algal vegetation, which shows the characteristics of peat bogs already. The high species diversity found makes the habitat highly valuable itself. Although a special, unique algal species has not been found in previous studies, 27 Desmidiales taxa listed as endangered occur sometimes with high density and make the habitat even more valuable. Based on our results, the area deserves special attention both from the habitat conservation and research point of view. At the same time, its further monitoring can provide crucial information for exploring and understanding the succession of similar habitats, and thereby for their more efficient protection.
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The Wildflower of the Year 2013 in Hungary: Summer Snowflake (Leucojum aestivum L.)
354-364Views:129In this paper a short review of the taxonomy, nomenclature, morphology, distribution, habitat characteristics, phenology, reproduction, biotic interactions, biologically active compounds, conservation status and threatening factors of Leucojum aestivum can be found.
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Hungarian localities of Himantoglossum adriaticum and its land-use history
84–94Views:179Himantoglossum 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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Sphaerocarpos michelii, a new liverwort species in Hungary
19-25Views:195Until now, the genus Sphaerocarpos, which can be recognized at first glance due to its characteristic appearance, was represented in Hungary by S. europaeus only, for which a single old record exists. In January 2022 the other widely distributed European congener, S. michelii Bellardi, was discovered on an arable field of lucerne in Somogy county. We report the habitat characteristics of the single known population of S. michelii in Hungary, describe the morphology of the species and deal with the differentiation of the two Sphaerocarpos species. In order to facilitate species identification, we include light and electron micrographs showing essential details of the spore surface of S. michelii.
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Data on the occurrence of Ducellieria chodatii in West-Hungary
3-10Views:419During 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.