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In memoriam Palkó Sándor (1959–2002)
179-186Views:143Sándor Palkó (1959–2002) was the first nature conservation surveyor in Zala county at the Balaton-uplands National Park. While he was nation-wide recognized ornithologist, he extended our knowledge with many floristic data too, but we remember him mostly for his imaginative activity in nature conservation. He sent on his experience dozens of young conservationists and stood them on their own ways. His dedication carried with him all those who had predisposition. The Research and Ringing Camp of Fenékpuszta established by him has become one of the most important camps of the country for avian migration research and nature conservation practices.
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Data on the distribution of some protected plant species and on their presence in secondary habitats
183-199Views:1778In this paper, I publish my floristic data on some protected and strictly protected plant species collected in Hungary between 2016 and 2021. The data published in this paper cover 31 micro regions of Hungary, but most of them come from the Great Hungarian Plain, especially from Pest and Bács-Kiskun counties. I describe the occurrences of 41 protected and three strictly protected vascular plant species (two ferns and 42 flowering plants), some of which represent new data for the particular micro region or even larger geographical areas (e.g. Botrychium matricariifolium, Thlaspi alliaceum and Nasturtium officinale). For some species, the published data either come from floristically understudied areas (e.g. Ranunculus illyricus, Vinca herbacea and Cardamine amara) or are considered rare in the certain region and/or in the whole country (e.g. Apium repens, Cnidium dubium and Vicia narbonensis). For other species, the newly reported occurrences are presented as complement to the already known distribution data (e.g. Cephalanthera damasonium, C. rubra, Linaria biebersteinii, Sonchus palustris and Agrostemma githago). In support of the nature conservation actions, I provide data from the flora of some floristically understudied micro regions (e.g. Dorozsma-Majsai Sand Ridge, Bácskai Loess Plain) and try to highlight the role of canals in Hungary in species and biodiversity conservation, by the example of the Danube-Tisza canal. In this manuscript, I publish data on twelve protected plant species from the Danube-Tisza canal and its canal bank (eg. Peucedanum palustre, Carex paniculata, Clematis integrifolia).
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Lactuca tatarica (Asteraceae), a new species for the Hungarian alien flora
170-178Views:133The 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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Astragalus vesicarius and other new taxa to the flora of the Vértes Mountains (Hungary, Transdanubian Mts)
195–199Views:186A 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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Salutation of Professor László Almádi on his 80th birthday
3–15Views:143László Almádi, the 80 years old professor at the Georgikon Faculty of Keszthely University, has a several decades long history in teaching. During this period, he taught a large number of students in agriculture with an up-to-date agrobotanical knowledge, and launched the career of or had a great impact on many field botanists working in nature conservation. His ability to identify plants is excellent, and he did pass this knowledge on. Besides his huge fascination for plants, his precision, broad and well-founded knowledge serve exemplary for us. Professor Almádi’s rich life is presented in this tribute paper based on his personal stories and written publications, and is supplemented with our own memories, experiences. We cordially greet our Professor on the occasion of his birthday!
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Data to the flora and geobotany of Kisalföld (Lesser Plain) region, NW Hungary
235-253Views:128Lesser Plain (Kisalföld) – divided among three countries (Austria, Hungary and Slovakia) – is the westernmost part of the lowland areas of the Pannonian Basin. Present paper provides a résumé of the authors’ floristic work from the Hungarian part of the area, describing localities, habitats and regional phytogeography of 57 taxa altogether. The localities were listed according to the classification of small geographic regions. The most important results of the study are as follows:
- We recorded 5 species new to the region (Brachypodium rupestre, Bromus ramosus, Hypericum dubium, Lathyrus sphaericus, Tordylium maximum); all of them can be considered as submontane-montane elements.
- We reported several species new to a microregion within the Lesser Plain: montane species in the W-SW part of the Plain (Cirsium rivulare, Dryopteris dilatata, Equisetum telmateia), loess-connected species mainly on the Moson Plateau (Agropyron cristatum, Allium atroviolaceum, Euphorbia salicifolia, Viola ambigua); and occurrences of species on sandy soils near the Lake Fertő (Draba nemorosa, Stipa pennata).
- We explained the known localities of several salt tolerant species (e.g. Carex divisa, Crypsis alopecuroides, Juncus maritimus, Limonium gmelinii, Suaeda pannonica) from the Lake Fertő and its surroundings.
- We assessed the role of the forest management and nature conservational actions in the distribution of some important tree species (Acer tataricum, Betula pubescens, Fraxinus ornus, Quercus petraea, Salix pentandra).
- We discussed the regional nature conservational status of several protected and/or threatened species (e.g. Allium carinatum, Allium suaveolens, Carex strigosa, Hottonia palustris, Potamogeton coloratus, Stellaria palustris) in the Lesser Plain.
The activities of the authors in the surroundings of Győr were supported by monitoring results gained during the Hungarian Little Plain project (LIFE08 NAT/H/000289).
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Dactylorhiza traunsteineri (Saut. ex Rchb.) Soó: an unexpected record in the Romanian flora
15-24Views:89Dactylorhiza Necker ex Nevski is a complex genus. The taxonomy of these dactylorchids is widely considered to be complicated due to relatively high morphological variability within species and high frequency of hybridization between species. During a floristic survey of the Valea Morii (Morii Valley, Malomvölgy) Nature Reserve in June 2017, a population of Dactylorhiza traunsteineri (Saut. ex. Rchb.) Soó, a species with uncertain presence in the Romanian flora was found. In the Morii Valley, this narrow-leaved marsh-orchid was encountered in fen-patches, in phytocoenoses of the plant association Orchido-Schoenetum nigricantis Oberd. 1957. Due to the cool and wet microclimate of the Morii Valley, many glacial relicts and other plant rarities (e.g. Tofieldia calyculata (L.) Wahlenb., Swertia perennis (L.), Liparis loeselii (L.) Rich., Ophioglossum vulgatum L. Schoenus nigricans L.) had been able to survive on strongly humid places on calcareous soils. This study reports the first occurrence of D. traunsteineri in Romania confirming the presence of a highly debated taxon. We also discuss the morphological features, habitat preference and conservation status of this new species in the Romanian Flora.
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Lajos Felföldy: a prominent Hungarian botanist and hydrobiologist
3–25Views:160Lajos Felföldy (1920–2016) was one of the most versatile and open-minded Hungarian biologists. He began his scientific career as a student of Prof. Rezső Soó. Between 1938 and 1946 he participated in geobotanical studies in University of Debrecen and Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca, Romania). He contributed with important achievements to the development of several biological disciplines. His pioneering study on the effects of air pollution on epiphytic lichens (1942) was among the firsts in the world. He described Hemitherophyte life-form as a discrete unit within Raunkiaer's plant life-form system (1942). He was a pioneer in the cytological (caryological) study of wild vascular plant species in Hungary (1947–1949). His results regarding to primary production of freshwater algae and algal culture (1958–1960) were in leading edge. In 1972 he founded and until 1990 edited the Hungarian series entitled ‘Vízűgyi Hidrobiológia’. Books of this series aimed to publish identification keys of freshwater taxa. These books were proved to be decisive and useful tools for Hungarian hydrobiologists in biological classification of brooks, streams, rivers and different types of stagnant waters. Between 1934 and 2009 he collected more than ten thousand herbarium sheets. After his retirement, he dealt with the revision of the herbarium material of Department of Botany in Hungarian Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden of Eötvös University (Budapest). He participated in the preparation of the New Hungarian Herbal. His scientific work was characterised by deep humility for nature, which was founded on strong theoretical and practical background.
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Monitoring of the Apium repens population near Császártöltés (2006–2015)
1–8Views:162Detailed botanical surveys were carried out to monitor the population size of Apium repens in the Vörös-mocsár nature protection area (located in S Hungary, Császártöltés). We found a clear correlation between the water status and the land use type and management of the habitats and the size of the Apium repens population. Apium repens is a Nanocyperion-species, which simultaneously requires wet and open surfaces. Its population shrinks, becomes latent or disappears if its habitat dries out or any other radical transformation happens, like too much leaf litter, closure of the vegetation, or succession on the open peat surfaces. Proper management (water retention, extensive grazing, mowing, open peat surface) has a very positive effect on the populations in a short time, even within a growing season. The research was implemented within the framework of the National Biodiversity Monitoring System, in cooperation with the Kiskunság National Park Directorate.
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Contributions to the flora of Western-Transdanubia (W Hungary)
213-234Views:121In 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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Contributions to the flora of kurgans in the Middle Tisza region
94–105Views:513Kurgans are ancient burial mounds built by nomadic steppic cultures. Embedded in the heavily transformed landscapes of the Carpathian Basin they often serve as last refuges for rare and endangered plant species. In our paper we publish floristic data collected on 82 kurgans located in the area of the Hortobágy National Park Directorate. Our dataset covers 64 CEU quarter quadrates, and the territory of 45 settlements. We provide data on 39 taxa that are either protected (e.g. Anchusa barrelieri, Centaurea solstitialis, Ranunculus illyricus and Phlomis tuberosa) or regionally rare (e.g. Aegilops cylindrica, Astragalus austriacus, Glaucium corniculatum and Trifolium diffusum). Our records demonstrate that kurgans have a vital role in maintaining the populations of rare and endangered grassland species even in transformed landscapes.
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Data to the distribution and nature conservation of Sorbus bakonyensis
229-233Views:1296Sorbus bakonyensis (Jáv.) Jáv. (syn. S. majeri Barabits) is an apomictic species with a very narrow distribution range in the Bakony Mts (Hungary). Its previous occurrence data were published only from Kopasz Mt. (~Kápolna Hill, Csordás valley) above the village Márkó. It was possible to slightly expand the known area of the species to the East and to the West (Kis-Bükk Mt) of Kopasz Mt. with a detailed mapping. Due to the number of known individuals (six mature trees and a variable number of seedlings) and its small distribution range (~2 km2) the species is critically endangered. Regarding its small population, the high number of big game (wild boar, red deer) and the more and more frequent drought periods are significant risk factors. In situ preservation of the species is still a realistic goal, but ex situ propagation in tree nurseries and reintroduction to the suitable habitats of the mapped area (clearings, forest edges) are also justified.
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Floristic data from the Great Plain of Hungary (Alföld)
304–316Views:171In this study we report relevant occurrence data of 49 species and hybrids and their habitats from the Great Plain registered in the period between 2011 and 2017. Due to importance for nature conservation, we present additional data of further 13 species. Most of the data are originated from riverine oak-elm-ash forests of South East Hungary (from the region of Gyula, Békéscsaba, Doboz settlements). The most important result of our study is the rediscovery of Gagea minima and Dictamnus albus. Besides, we report new occurrence data for the Great Plain (Alföld), as well as for the flora of the microregions in questions (e.g. Draba muralis, Nicandra physalodes, Cystopteris fragilis) and also present the data of the regionally endangered species (e.g. Inula helenium, Ophioglossum vulgatum). Some rare weed taxa (e.g. Calepina irregularis, Cardamine impatiens), spreading adventive taxa (e.g. Chorispora tenella, Euphorbia maculata, Phytolacca americana, Ph. esculenta, Sicyos angulata) and in surveys rather underrepresented species (e.g. Loranthus europaeus, Arabis hirsuta, Rumex confertus) are reported too.
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Water contraction drives stronger the formation of diatom assemblages in stream than human induced microhabitat-variability
211-228Views:205Today, climate change, together with other anthropogenic influences is considered as a major threat affecting aquatic ecosystems in several ways. Here, altering water contraction (standing and flowing phases) and human-induced habitat variability (natural and artificial stream sections) were studied as modifying factors driving community changes in benthic diatom assemblages of a Hungarian small lowland stream (Létai-ér). We assumed notable compositional differences between phases and habitats, but we expected these differences to decrease with drying. Moreover, lower diversity was hypothesized in assemblages of both artificial section and flowing phase. While taxonomic composition did not reveal significant differences between the sections, well pronounced compositional changes were found between phases. Surprisingly, no significant diversity changes were observed during water contraction. Compared to the natural microhabitat, however, artificial stream section was found to maintain more diverse diatom community. These results emphasize that modification effects of climate change induced hydrological extremes can lead to remarkable compositional changes in benthic algal assemblages even on a short time scale, that must be taken into account in both water management and nature conservation strategies.
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Bryofloristical study in the Brunszvik manor park in Martonvásár, Hungary
198–206Views:153This is the first bryofloristic study in the Martonvásár manor park. In our survey in 2015, 56 species (6 liverworts and 50 mosses) were found in the park. Most of them are considered to be common in Hungary, but an endangered (Eurhynchium speciosum), a vulnerable (Orthotrichum patens) and five near-threatened species (Aphanorrhegma patens, Orthotrichum obtusifolium, Orthotrichum pumilum, Pseudocrossidium revolutum, Riccia cavernosa) were also found. These results point out the nature conservation value of the manor park.
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Contributions to the Atlas Florae Hungariae IX.
253–256Views:291The 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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Land-use history of a habitat of fritillaries (Fritillaria meleagris L.) in W Hungary
25–30Views:104In Hungary, Fritillaria meleagris is known as a species of riparian woodlands however it forms large populations on meadows appeared after woodland clearance too. We monitored one such population on the floodplain of the small river Zala in Western Hungary near Tüskeszentpéter. To explore the history of land use on this site we used the maps of Military Surveys of Hungary, aerial photographs and archive documents (1720–2016). The first written records of the settlement (Tüskeszentpéter) built in a meander of the river Zala are dated to 1301. By 1784, the studied area was covered by wet meadows and only small fragments of forests, as it could be seen on old maps. That time the main livelihood was animal husbandry which required a lot of hay to be stored for winter. These floodplain hay meadows were very productive. Between 1895 and 1930, after the regulation of river Zala flow most of meadows were transferred into arable fields. Small-scale farming almost disappeared by 1960s because of ‘collectivization’. Big hay-cut machinery started to be used and this way of land farming can be seen on the meadows nowadays too. Fritillary populations occur only in areas which have been continuously managed as hay meadows for 300 years. Over six years of observations (2012–2017) the number of annually flowering Fritillaria individuals varied from 630 to 5314. As traditional animal husbandry is no longer economical in Hungary, the maintenance of these historic floodplain meadows depends on different nature conservation supports.
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The Sea milkwort (Glaux maritima) in the Carpathian Basin
10-20Views:315Sea 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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Taxiphyllum densifolium (Taxiphyllaceae) and other rare bryophytes of the Mecsek valleys (SW Hungary)
3-16Views:88In this paper, we deal with threatened and/or legally protected bryophytes found in the shady, forested valleys of the Mecsek Mountains, which are rare in national and/or local terms. Taxiphyllum densifolium, a rare moss in Europe has stable colonies with sporophytes in two valleys. This study is the first to describe the spore characteristics of this species. The previously considered unique and legally protected Rhynchostegiella teneriffae is nowadays so widespread in the Mecsek that it can no longer be considered a vulnerable species (VU) in Hungary. We present the first population of the legally protected Neckera pennata in Tolna county, and we also report on the recent, unusual occurrence of the data-deficient (DD) Fossombronia wondraczekii. We also list new populations of three other endangered (EN) species, Blindiadelphus recurvatus, Palustriella commutata and Porella arboris-vitae. Several vulnerable (VU) taxa such as Blepharostoma trichophyllum, Porella cordaeana, Sciuro-hypnum flotowianum, Seligeria pusilla, as well as new occurrences of near threatened (NT) mosses such as Microeurhynchium pumilum (with sporophytes), Phaeoceros carolinianus are documented. In addition, the data on Rhynchostegium rotundifolium in Jakab Mountain, which has not been recorded for more than 50 years, is confirmed. The difficulties of differentiating Hygroamblystegium species are briefly discussed.
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Data to the flora and vegetation of Hungary III.
197-206Views:149We report the occurrence data of 44 vascular plant taxa collected at various localities in Hungary (mainly the Danube–Tisza Interfluve and South Transdanubia) during floristic, vegetation and ecological field surveys between 2016 and 2018. Of the species in the present article, 27 are protected or strictly protected. In the paper we focused on plants that are rare regionally (e.g. Botrychium lunaria, Polystichum aculeatum) or in the whole country (e.g. Ophrys oestrifera, Ranunculus psilostachys), as well as on plants that occurred in unusual habitats (e.g. Corydalis solida). We also included new localities of weedy species, some of which (e.g. Opuntia humifusa, Sporobolus cryptandrus) may present nature conservation threats.
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Multiclavula mucida (Basidiomycota) and other cryptogamic taxa in the Hungarian flora
173–184Views:220The 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.