Botanikai Közlemények

Remembering János Suba (1929-2024)

2025-11-19T15:36:55+00:00

János Suba was born on 29 May 1929 in Eger, where he also completed his primary and secondary education. In 1948, he began studying biology and geography at Pázmány Péter University, graduating with excellent results in 1952. He first started teaching at the State Teacher Training Institute of Eger, then moved to the Teachers Training College of Eger in 1962. In 1968, he received his doctorate in floristics and vegetation science from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest. In 1984, he obtained his candidate degree in the field of photosynthesis ecology. He acted as head of the Department of Botany for several terms and many years; he retired in 1994. He passed away in Eger on 22 October 2024.

János Suba's professional career began in the Heves–Borsod Hills. Initially, he worked in the fields of floristics and vegetation science, then in the 1980s he turned his focus to photosynthesis ecology. His pioneering studies revealed the annual and daily photosynthesis dynamics of 12 dominant species in an oak forest community. He used isotope techniques and excellently combined field studies with laboratory methods. He had a thorough knowledge of the flora of the Bükk Mountains, about which he published a book and a book chapter. In 2005, he received the Pro Natura Award for his lifelong work in nature conservation.

Botanical volumes in the Inaugural Collection of the Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

2025-11-19T14:02:42+00:00

The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the botanical books in the Teleki Library, the founding collection of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Library and Information Center in 1826. A further task is to determine to what extent the collection was suitable for the realization of the library founders’ intention: to provide modern and comprehensive information to those who wanted to gain botanical knowledge with the help of the book collection in the first period of the institution’s operation. Our publication is based on the collection reconstruction carried out between 2015 and 2018, during which the Teleki books in the library’s collection were identified by autopsy examination. Based on this, we assessed the botanical collection, grouped according to topics characteristic of the period in which the book collection was created. As a result, it can be stated that the 219 volumes of 120 books classified as botanical works account for less than 1% of the entire collection, so their proportion is small, but the existing books are significant works from the point of view of the history of science. The vast majority of the collection (85% of the volumes) is from the 18th century, 9% comes from the 19th century, and only 7% from the 16th–17th centuries. Most volumes on botanical topics are in German (42%) or Latin (35%), a smaller proportion are in French (11%), Hungarian (8%), and occasionally in English, Dutch or Italian (together they add up to 3%). Works with Hungarian relevance also account for a small proportion within botanical literature, but most of the important works of the era are found among them. Overall, a significant part of the authoritative botanical literature of the era has become available in the collection. Thus, the inaugural collection could serve as a useful starting point for botanical research, but in the first years of the Academy’s operation, it was necessary to modernize it and acquire the latest literature.

The flora of cemeteries in Kishegyes (Mali Iđoš, Vojvodina, Serbia)

2025-11-19T15:40:29+00:00

Researchers usually deal with the cultural values of cemeteries. Most of the publications are ethnographic. However, cemeteries are also invaluable in providing habitat or even refugia for animals, fungi and plants. In this paper, the flora of three cemeteries in Kishegyes (Mali Iđoš, Vojvodina, Serbia) is described. The cemeteries are typical of the region, and part of their area is used for arable crop production. The flora was surveyed by visiting the cemeteries every 10–15 days during the vegetation period from 2021 to 2023. As a result, 390 plant species were identified of which 196 species are used to decorate graves, while 217 species have established spontaneously. Among others, the latter group contains 68 species surviving from the natural vegetation and one cultivated plant species. Altogether 13 plant species protected or strictly protected in Serbia were encountered, out of which only 4 (Adonis vernalis, Ornithogalum boucheanum, Ranunculus illyricus, Salvia austriaca) occur naturally; the rest are planted from propagules obtained from horticultural trade, thus their genetic makeup is alien. In a landscape that has been under agricultural cultivatation for centuries, cemeteries can often be the last refuge, a kind of gene bank, for many species of the original vegetation. This holds less for the Kishegyes cemeteries: the number of remaining species of the original natural vegetation is low, as a total of 68 species are considered to be remnants of the steppe vegetation. The flora of these cemeteries includes Hypericum perforatum, a species rare to the region, albeit not protected; only its collection is under regulation. In addition to species usually planted in cemeteries, ornamental plants fashionable today can also be found. In addition to planted ornamental plants, members of the local spontaneous vegetation with ornamental value are also used to decorate the graves. As to the geographical origin of ornamental plants, 88 species are European, 40 North American, 35 Asian, and a few African, Australian and Central and South American. Among ornamental species, herbaceous perennials are the most numerous, followed by shrubs, chamaephytes and annuals. There are relatively few tree species, and only 5 rows of trees exist. Among spontaneously occurring species, 171 are native and 44 alien. Annual species have the greatest share followed by herbaceous perennials, while trees and shrubs are represented by a few species only. Among the plants encountered in cemeteries, there is a high number of alien species (155), including those that are invasive in Serbia (34), and many of the latter are planted as ornamental plants. The selective effect of multiple mowing in a year is apparent; the small populations of rare species are those most decimated.

Data on the flora of the Danube–Tisza Interfluve (Hungary) II

2025-11-19T07:41:10+00:00

In this paper I provide new data to the flora of the Danube–Tisza Interfluve. In particular, I present 261 occurrence data of 76 species and 1 hybrid. Most of the localities presented in this publication are associated with secondary habitats, including forest plantations, mounds, artificial ditches, canals and ponds, field margins, cemeteries, road edges, habitats associated with railway lines, and settlements. The paper also presents occurrence data for 18 protected and 1 strictly protected taxon, the most important of them are Allium paniculatum, Carduus hamulosus, Chamaenerion dodonaei, Corispermum canescens, Ephedra distachya, Samolus valerandi. From a phytogeographical point of view, significant data are also given for species such as Artemisia scoparia, Epipactis tallosii, Ranunculus bulbosus. The knowledge of the alien flora of the region is also considerably extended, the most notable contributions are the new occurrences of Bromus catharticus, Chenopodium ambrosioides, Cochlearia danica, Geranium pyrenaicum, Lepidium oblongum, Vulpia ciliata. I describe recent occurrences of several species near railways, e.g. alien species like Galium humifusum, Galium parisiense, Euphorbia prostrata and native or archeophyte species: Sideritis montana, Microrrhinum minus, Geranium rotundifolium, Trifolium retusum, Medicago monspeliaca, Polycnemum arvense. The paper also mentions the recent distribution of some annual species that are rare or data-deficient in the area, e.g. Adonis flammea, Geranium divaricatum, Papaver argemone, Papaver hybridum, Ranunculus arvensis. I also provide new information on the flora of forest plantations of the Danube–Tisza Interfluve, e.g. on the following species: Epipactis helleborine, Senecio sylvaticus, Mycelis muralis, Juniperus virginiana. I also expand the knowledge of the flora of the cemeteries (e.g. Ranunculus illyricus, Taraxacum serotinum, Gagea villosa) as well as the mounds of the region (e.g. Allium paniculatum, Allium sphaerocephalon, Bupleurum affine, Caucalis platycarpos).

Contributions to the biology of water hemlock (Cicuta virosa L.)

2025-11-19T07:41:11+00:00

The highly toxic water hemlock (Cicuta virosa L.) is a rare and protected species in Hungary. Due to the limited literature on the histology, germination conditions, and biotic interactions of the species, this study presents new observations on these aspects to support a more comprehensive understanding of its life history. During field surveys conducted at the Keleti-főcsatorna (Balmazújváros, NE Hungary), plant organ samples were collected for the preparation of both hand-cut and microtome sections, which were examined under a light microscope. According to our results, approximately 75.2% of the root and 31.7% of the rhizome wall comprise aerenchymatous tissue. The species is adapted to a free-floating habit and waterborne dispersal via its aerenchyma-rich rootstock and roots, as well as its hollow stems and inflated petioles. The schizogenous secretory duct arrangement, typical of the genus, is also evident in this species. The seeds are capable of germinating immediately after ripening and do not require a period of cold to break dormancy. Germination is dependent on the presence of light. The flowers attract various insects belonging to different taxonomic groups, including Hymenoptera (Andrenidae, Gasteruptiidae, Sphecidae), Diptera (Syrphidae), Coleoptera (Cantharidae, Cerambycidae, Mordellidae), and Hemiptera (Lygaeidae). Lixus iridis Olivier (Curculionidae) feeds on the stem of the plant.

Comparison of the micromorphology of greyish oak (Quercus robur L. subsp. pedunculiflora (K. Koch) Menitsky) and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L. subsp. robur) inflorescences

2025-11-19T15:43:08+00:00

In the present study, we compared the micromorphology of the inflorescences of greyish oak (Quercus robur L. subsp. pedunculiflora (K. Koch) Menitsky) and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L. subsp. robur). Greyish oak samples were collected in Romania, while pedunculate oak samples were collected in Hungary and Romania during the springs of 2023, 2024, and 2025, across a total of 11 sites. The 70 samples originated from 33 trees. Micromorphological traits of the inflorescences – primarily the presence and type of trichomes – were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on the inflorescence axis as well as on floral organs, including cupule primordia, stigma, staminal filaments, and anthers. On both female and male inflorescence axes, trichome density was determined and trichome ray length was measured. Pollen grains were also examined to a limited extent. No indumentum was detected on the stigma, anthers, or staminal filaments in either taxon. In contrast, stellate and fasciculate trichomes were observed on the female inflorescence axis, on cupule primordia, and on the male inflorescence axis in both taxa. In the pedunculate oak samples, some female inflorescences displayed a completely glabrous axis – representing a clear micromorphological distinction between the two taxa in our material. The female inflorescence axis of greyish oak was characterized by approximately fourfold higher trichome density compared to that of pedunculate oak (93.71 vs. 25.00 trichomes/mm²). Longer trichome rays were also recorded in greyish oak, both in stellate trichomes (329.14 ± 86.01 μm) and fasciculate trichomes (468.39 ± 117.31 μm), whereas in pedunculate oak the respective values were 152.63 ± 63.83 μm and 225.59 ± 74.23 μm. A significant difference in pollen grain length was also detected, with values of 35.67 ± 4.11 μm in greyish oak and 32.83 ± 4.04 μm in pedunculate oak. The higher trichome density of greyish oak inflorescences may serve as a useful diagnostic trait in identifying the taxon. A more developed indumentum covering not only the reproductive parts but also the leaves shown in our earlier study may contribute to an improved drought tolerance, a potentially advantageous feature under the recent climate change. This study provides the first detailed micromorphological comparison of the inflorescences of greyish oak and pedunculate oak, thereby contributing new insights into the morphological differentiation of these two closely related taxa.

Habitat-preference of Daphne laureola L. (Thymelaeaceae) at its north-eastern range margin

2025-11-19T15:44:31+00:00

Spurge-laurel (Daphne laureola L.) reaches the north-eastern limit of its range in the Vértes Mountains (Central Hungary). In Europe, it inhabits various plant communities, including beech woodlands. In Hungary, its primary habitat is beech woodlands, and it is the characteristic species of the Transdanubian Mountains beech forest (Daphno laureolae–Fagetum) association. In this study, the species’ habitat preference in the Vértes Mountains was examined based on 2635 occurrences and 725 vegetation stands. We searched for associations between D. laureola occurrences and actual and potential vegetation, the degree of naturalness of habitats, and elevation. It was found that the occurrence of D. laureola is restricted to certain vegetation types in the Vértes Mountains. Considering the actual vegetation, the plant can be found in beech woodlands, sessile oak–hornbeam woodlands, sessile oak–Turkey oak woodlands, downy oak woodlands, and occasionally in tree plantations, shrublands and grasslands. D. laureola was found to be positively associated with beech woodlands, sessile oak–hornbeam woodlands, sessile oak–Turkey oak woodlands, and downy oak woodlands, while negatively associated with non-natural vegetation types and grasslands. As to the potential vegetation, the positive association of D. laureola occurrences is valid for beech woodlands and downy oak woodlands, but not for sessile oak–Turkey oak woodlands and sessile oak–hornbeam woodlands. Based on the degree of naturalness of habitats, 87% of the species’ occurrences fall into the natural or the near-natural categories. D. laureola occurs in the Vértes Mountains between 350 and 450 m altitude most frequently, while in a considerable part of its range in Europe, it is a montane species appearing in 500–1500 m elevation. Such altitudinal distribution in the Vértes Mountains is similar to that of several coexisting herbaceous relict montane species living on dolomite rocks or in rock grasslands there. However, unlike those, D. laureola prefers forest habitats. Based on these, D. laureola can be considered a good, natural indicator species of undisturbed original forest stands in the Vértes Mountains. Furthermore, the presence of D. laureola supports the phytogeographical connection of the dolomite areas in the Vértes Mountains to the montane flora of higher altitudes in Europe.

Discovery of Eranthis hyemalis (L.) Salisb. and a new occurrence of Adenophora liliifolia (L.) Ledeb. ex A. DC. in the Gömör–Torna Karst, NE Hungary

2025-11-19T07:41:14+00:00

New occurrences of two rare plant species from the Gömör-Torna Karst (NE Hungary) are reported here. A small population of Eranthis hyemalis was discovered on Baradla-tető (Aggtelek) in February 2025. It grows in a Ceraso-Quercetum pubescentis forest. This species is new for the flora of Gömör–Torna Karst. The strictly protected Adenophora liliifolia has become extremely rare in the region. Three fully developed individuals were encountered on the north-facing side of a doline north of Lopó-galya (Aggtelek) in May 2022. Currently altogether four individuals of the species are known from the Gömör–Torna Karst.

Activity of the Botanical Section of the Hungarian Biological Society

2025-11-19T07:41:15+00:00

Without abstract