Ábrahám Levente (szerk.): Válogatott tanulmányok III. - Natura Somogyiensis 12. (Kaposvár, 2008)

Salamon-Albert Éva-Horváth Ferenc: Vegetation of Külső-Somogy in Hungary II.

many small villages, so Külső-Somogy is not a frequent region from an economical point of view (MAROSI and SOMOGYI 1990). On the basis of drought-sensitivity index several vegetation types existing in the south-eastern part of the region could be endangered in climatically dry periods (NÉMETH et al 2004). Grasslands of Külső-Somogy are diverse from their phenological and original point of view. In the sandy depressions and valleys of the rivers many of wet grasses could exist with their typical or transitional stands caused by decissation or human disturbance. Semi-natural grasslands, as the most valuable objects for conservation, represent variability of non-woody vegetation in the region. One of them is the Látrány Nature Conservation Area which is totally explored in botanical and zoological respect (ABRAHAM 2003, LÁJER 2003). In some 225 ha marshes, flushes, transition mires, raised bogs, eu- and mesotrophic meadows and tall herb communities are dominating with stands of Phragmitetum communis Soó 1927 em. Schmale 1939, Typhetum latifoliae Lang 1973, Typhetum angustifoliae (Soó 1927) Pignatti 1953, Cladietum marisci Zobr. 1935, Bolboschoenetum maritimi Eggler 1933, Caricetum elatae Koch 1926, Caricetum acutiformis Eggler 1933, Caricetum ripariae Soó 1928, Carici gracilis-Phalaridetum /Kovács et Máthé 1967/ Soó 1971 corr. Borhidi 1996, Juncetum subnodulosi Koch 1926, Junco obtusiflorae-Schoenetum nigricantis Allorge 1921, Eleocharidi uniglumiEriophoretum angustifolii Lájer 1998, Cirsietum rivularis Nowinski 1928, SuccisoMolinietum hungaricae /Komlódi 1958/ Soó 1969, Agrostio-Deschampsietum caespitosae /Soó 1928/ Újvárosi 1947. In some semi-natural stands closed steppes on loess or sand (e.g. Astragalo austriacae-Festucetum sulcatae Soó 1957) occur. The other nature conservation area connected to Natura 2000 network of Hungary is the Koppány meadows. Among patches of woodlands eu- and mesotrophic reed, Glyceria and Typha beds, tussock and non-tussock beds of large sedges, mesotrophic meadows and uncharacteristic meadows with tall herb communities occur (BAUER and MÁRKUS 2007). Near Lake Balaton at the Northern margin of Külső-Somogy mire vegetation complex of Nagyberek is preserved (LÁJER 2007). Some additional communities are Beruh erectaeMenthetum aquaticae Kovács ex Borhidi 2001, Calamagrostetum canescentis Simon 1960, Galio palustris-Caricetum ripariae Bal-Tul. et al 1993, Oenantho aquaticaeRorippetum amphibiae Lohmeyer 1950, Astero pannonici-Schoenetum nigricantis Lájer 2006. On the ridges covered by loess closed, dry grasslands occur as Salvio nemorosaeFestucetum rupicolae Zólyomi ex Soó 1964. Semi-natural stands of them are sustainable managed by traditional grazing as pastures. Lack of this management uncharacteristic grasslands e.g. Cynodonti-Poetum angustifoliae Rapaics ex Soó 1957 or shrublands are arising (HORVÁT 1943, BORHIDI 2006). Dry grass communities in Külső-Somogy are sporadic and rich of protected vascular plant species. Along the Jaba valley (SZABÓ et al 2006) besides of eu- and mesotrophic reed beds, sedge communities and wet Molinia or mesotrophic meadows some stands of xeromesophylous steppe grasslands are occuring especially Salvio-Festucetum rupicolae with the largest extension. Protected plant species are Adonis vernalis, Cirsium boujartii, C. furiens, Hippocrepis emerus, Inula helenium, Orchis ustulata, O. militaris, O. purpurea, Scabiosa canescens, Sonchus palustris, Spiranthes spiralis, Stipa pennata, Taraxacum serotinum. Ploughed fields dealed with land use dynamics have become secondary grasses with several dominant species as Bothriochloa ischaemum, Bromus erectus, Brachypodium pinnatum and Festuca rupicola types. Identification of these types for META categories can be done by their current dynamic status and naturalness. Determination of the ancient vegetation type is difficult because of habitat changes in time and disturbance in space, but wet or dry characteristics can be estimate by their floristic composition.