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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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Contributions to the Atlas Florae Hungariae XIII.
85-88Views:58007The present paper is the 13th in a series of papers contributing new floristic data to complement the distribution maps of Atlas Florae Hungariae. We present altogether 1307 new occurrence data to advance our knowledge of the distribution of vascular plants in Hungary. New data are presented for 634 vascular plant species from 256 flora mapping quarter quadrates (CEU). Due to the unevenness of data collection, the data are highly dispersed over the area of Hungary. Most of the presented occurrence data are from the Great Hungarian Plain, the North Hungarian Mountains, and the Little Hungarian Plain regions. The enumeration includes rare native species (e.g., Androsace maxima, Erysimum crepidifolium, Orobanche gracilis, Peucedanum palustre, Pulsatilla zimmermannii, Scopolia carniolica, Vicia biennis), rare or data deficient adventive species (e.g., Euphorbia prostrata, Euphorbia serpens, Lindernia dubia), subspontaneous occurrences of native species (Asplenium scolopendrium, Daphne laureola, Chenopodium opulifolium), species spreading along linear infrastructure (Eleusine indica, Plantago coronopus, Sorghum halepense, Spergularia salina, Tragus racemosus), and also common native species with data deficient distribution maps (Agrostis stolonifera, Bromus benekenii, Bromus japonicus, Carex caryophyllea, Carex divulsa subsp. divulsa, Equisetum ramosissimum, Vulpia myuros).
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Spreading of native Spergularia species along roadsides of Transdanubia (NW Hungary)
141-150Views:186During the systematic floristic research along Transdanubian roads (NW Hungary) since 2013, two native halophyte Spergularia species has been found. Due to the well known spreading near motorways in Eastern-Central Europe, the appearance of Spergularia marina along roads in north-western Hungary is not a surprise. Occurrences of the species were registered along fourteen main roads. Some of the stands are very rich where S. marina forms single-species lines along the asphalt edge. The spreading of Spergularia media along roads is yet much less intensive. Four stands were found near the motorways M1 and M7, main road 74, and the common section of the main road 86-87. Both species are native in the Hungarian plains, being specific elements of Pannonic alkali grassland associations, however, their secondary migration along road edges is promoted by road salting, intensive management of roads and increased vehicle traffic. In this paper, we specify secondary occurrences of the two Spergularia species, discuss their ecological and abiotic circumstances and publish corresponding distribution maps. Due to recognition problems in Spergularia, a corrected determination key was provided.
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A new alien species in Hungary: Limnobium laevigatum (Hydrocharitaceae)
9-15Views:262The 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.
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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 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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Contributions to the flora of the Danube River in Komárom-Esztergom and Fejér counties (Hungary)
157–168Views:289The present paper focuses on the aquatic and Nanocyperion vegetation of the Danube floodplain. Most of the data show the results of the surveys in 2019 at low water levels. The Nanocyperion and aquatic vegetation of the Komárom-Esztergom County section is relatively well researched compared to the Fejér County section which was previously poorly known. In the last decade, two rare species – Hippuris vulgaris and Hydrocharis morsus-ranae – have disappeared between Gönyű and Neszmély (Komárom-Esztergom County). In contrast, several new invasive plants have appeared: Salvinia molesta, Myriophyllum aquaticum, Limnobium laevigatum, and Crassula helmsii (first record from Hungary). Vallisneria spiralis and Elodea canadensis were detected again after several decades. Elodea nuttallii and Azolla sp. have become more widespread and abundant than previously. New and uncommon Nanocyperion species were the native and protected Lindernia procumbens and the invasive Lindernia dubia. New invasive plants in the studied Danube sections were: Cyperus esculentus, Euphorbia maculata, and Eleusine indica. The native Veronica catenata and Schoenoplectus triqueter have become more widespread than before. Polygonum graminifolium was an interesting find of open pebble surfaces in several parts of the examined area, which has no recent records in Hungary from before 2015 (published here).
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The biases of floristic surveys I. Naive planters: “cuckoo” of the Medves (N Hungary)
207-217Views:145The aim of the planned thematic studies is to point out the main biases and/or errors of floristic surveys in Hungary. In this first article of the series we focus on those examples when native species were planted out of their original habitats and/or range by a non-professional naturalist. The sources of information are those letters that were posted by Ferenc Varga to the first author of this article in 2005. The circumstances of the transplantation of 10 phytogeographycally significant species of the investigated area and/or the Pannonicum (Adonis vernalis, Arum orientale, Asarum europaeum, Genista germanica, Phragmites australis, Pulsatilla grandis, P. nigricans, Salvia aethiopis, Viola alba, Xeranthemum annuum) are detailed in the text and summarised in a table. The correspondence between the first author and Ferenc Varga provides insight how the ambition of a non-professional naturalist can influence the flora of an area. Most of the species were removed from South and transplanted to North, almost 10 km away from their original stands. With the exception of Adonis vernalis and Genista germanica at least one transplantation of the species was successful. In the case of Salvia aethiopis, the naturalized populations came 1.25 km close to Slovakia, where this species is a very rare and endangered (EN) taxon.
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Contributions to the flora of Western-Transdanubia (W Hungary)
213-234Views:146In 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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Astragalus vesicarius and other new taxa to the flora of the Vértes Mountains (Hungary, Transdanubian Mts)
195–199Views:270A 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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New data on the Hungarian adventive flora: Acer opalus Mill. subsp. obtusatum (Waldst. et Kit. ex Willd.) Gams 1925 in Hungary
229-238Views:73Acer opalus Miller 1768 because of its complex taxonomic status can be interpreted as a collective species which contains several species and subspecies depending on different interpretations. An important adventive occurrence from this collective species was found in a forest that belongs to the Tétényi plateau (Budapest, 11th district) in July of 2009. It is proved to be Acer opalus Mill. subsp. obtusatum (Waldst. et Kit. ex Wild.) Gams. The natural range of the subspecies covers the eastern side of the central Mediterranean Sea region and western Balkan Peninsula. It is a submediterranean-mediterranean, thermophile, shade-tolerant taxon but often appears together lightdemanding species too. In its native range it occurs in beech, pine, sessile oak forests and in different types of dry oak forests as admixed tree species. The subspecies was found in a turkey oak – sessile oak community in Hungary. Several old, seed growing individuals live on the spot which have had continuous seed production. Therefore from the old trees to the young seedlings different age categories are represented.
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Contributions to the Atlas Florae Hungariae II.
227-252Views:344The present article is the second part of the series aiming to contribute with new data to the distribution maps published recently in Atlas Florae Hungariae. Current occurrence data of 612 vascular plant taxa from 283 flora mapping quadrates (CEU) are presented. New records are distributed over the entire Hungary, however, most are localised in the North Hungarian Mts. Occurrence data of rare native taxa (e.g. Antennaria dioica, Bupleurum pachnospermum, Carex rostrata, Ceratocephala testiculata, Cicuta virosa, Cirsium boujartii, Epipactis moravica, Lycopsis arvensis, Parnassia palustris, Pyrus nivalis, Rumex kerneri, Rumex pulcher, Silene nemoralis, Stellaria alsine, Teucrium botrys, Vicia lutea), rare or data-deficient alien taxa (e.g. Nonea lutea, Panicum dichotomiflorum, Silybum marianum) as well as frequent but more or less underrepresented taxa (e.g. Eragrostis minor, Heliotropium europaeum, Saxifraga tridactylites) are also enumerated, since our intention was to fill the gaps in the Atlas. Remarcable contribution on the occupied territory of Ranunculus illyricus and Spergula pentandra in the Nyírség region (E Hungary), and on the Hungarian distribution of expanding alien weed Senecio vernalis are also presented.
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Data on the occurrence of Ducellieria chodatii in West-Hungary
3-10Views:431During 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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Rubus armeniacus Focke, an unnoticed invader in the Hungarian flora
220-228Views:115The authors report on the occurrence, distribution and invasion potential of Rubus armeniacus, a bramble species of Caucasian origin, in Hungary. The first verified records of the species are from the 1990s. It has established strong populations in ruderal habitats mainly around Budapest and some other cities, whereas its competiveness is rather weak in closed non-lowland forests rich in native bramble species. In terms of conservation, it constitutes a real threat to the vegetation of Pannonian sandy habitats. The results of this study also emphasize the importance of recognising "nonnative cryptic species" for ecology and conservation biology.
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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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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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Contributions to the Atlas Florae Hungariae III.
122-146Views:519The current paper is the third one in the series aiming to contribute with new distribution data to the distribution maps published recently in Atlas Florae Hungariae. Current occurrence data of 558 vascular plant taxa from 186 flora mapping quadrates (CEU) are presented. New records are indicated from different regions of Hungary; however, most occurrences are located in the North Hungarian Mts. Occurrence data of rare native taxa (e.g. Marsilea quadrifolia, Salicornia prostrata, Stellaria palustris, Potentilla patula, Althaea cannabina, Lythrum tribracteatum, Ajuga laxmannii, Plantago schwarzenbergiana, Alisma gramineum, Gagea bohemica, G. szovitsii), rare or data-deficient alien taxa (e.g. Chorispora tenella, Thladiantha dubia, Senecio vernalis) as well as frequent but more or less underrepresented taxa (e.g. Scleranthus annuus, Vicia hirsuta, V. lathyroides) are also enumerated. In case of the most common species we provided the CEU codes only.
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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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Floristic data from the northern edge of the floristic region ‘Crisicum’ (NE Hungary) II.: Borsodi-ártér és Sajó–Hernád-sík
169–186Views:425In this paper we provide new floristic data for 126 species and one hybrid from the Borsod Plain and the Sajó–Hernád Interfluve (Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Northeast Hungary) observed between 2006 and 2019. A significant proportion of the data is related to gravel mining activities in the area. We present new localities for rare or sporadic native taxa in Hungary (e.g. Chenopodium murale, Ch. rubrum, Lycopsis arvensis, Chamaenerion dodonaei, Reseda luteola, Senecio viscosus, Gnaphalium luteoalbum, Cyperus glomeratus) as well as rare or sporadic adventive weeds (e.g. Lepidium densiflorum, L. virginicum). We publish additions to the distribution of several legally protected species (e.g. Pseudolysimachion longifolium, Nymphoides peltata, Epipactis tallosii, Leucanthemella serotina). Presence of some taxa is remarkable regarding to the flora of the whole area of Crisicum (Sherardia arvensis, Thymelaea passerina, Silene conica) or the Great Hungarian Plain (Monotropa hypopitys).
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The herbarium of the Botanical Garden of Eötvös Loránd University (BPU)
55–59Views:259The 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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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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The subgenus Ceratochloa (DC. et P. Beauv.) Hack. (Bromus L., Poaceae) in Hungary
44-47Views:156The subgenus Ceratochloa is a taxonomically difficult small group of the genus Bromus. The species of this subgenus are mostly native to America, and are often introduced to other continents. Two species of them, namely B. catharticus and B. carinatus have been reported from Hungary so far. Bromus catharticus was first found in Győr city in the 1910s, much later (in the 2000s) in Környe and Kálmánháza villages. The Hungarian records of B. carinatus come from Keszthely and Sopron cities. We have recently found two new occurrences of B. catharticus in the city of Pécs, South Hungary.
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Contributions to the Atlas Florae Hungariae X.
101–106Views:392This 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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Contributions to the Atlas Florae Hungariae VI.
87-102Views:266The current paper is the sixth one in the series aiming to contribute with new distribution data to the distribution maps published recently in Atlas Florae Hungariae. Current occurrence data of 389 vascular plant taxa from 117 flora mapping quadrates (CEU) are provided. New records are indicated from different regions of Hungary; however, most occurrences are located in the North Hungarian Mts and from the city of Szolnok and Western Hungary. Occurrence data of rare native taxa (including data of Equisetum fluviatile, Galium rivale, Gladiolus imbricatus, Hypericum maculatum, Persicaria bistorta, Potentilla inclinata, Ranunculus lingua, Rhinanthus rumelicus, Trifolium fragiferum subsp. bonannii, Viola pumila), rare or data-deficient alien taxa (e.g. Amaranthus blitum subsp. blitum, Cymbalaria muralis, Elymus elongatus, Euphorbia peplus, Heracleum sosnowskyi, Impatiens balfourii, Lepidium densiflorum, Rhus typhina, Telekia speciosa), as well as frequent but more or less underrepresented taxa (e.g. Carex otrubae, Chenopodium polyspermum, Crepis tectorum, Filipendula vulgaris, Petrorhagia prolifera, Poa palustris) are also enumerated. In case of the most common species we provided the CEU codes only.
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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.