Zs. P. Komáromy szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 14. 1980 (Budapest, 1980)
Kováts, Dezső: Distribution and diversity of Phleum hubbardii and Phleum pratense (Poaceae) in the Carpathian Basin
"Bálvány" U. 08,07,1971 - Szokolya 8180, 8179 (Com. Pest) Borb. 30,06,1873 - Szolnok 8887, 8886 (Com. Szolnok) Herb. Hazsl. ? - Szórnod 8376 (Com. Komárom) Bs. 01,08,1925 - Tapolca 9170 (Com. Borsod) Budai 23, 07,1907 - Tákos 7800 (Com.Szabolcs-Szatmár) at forest ,'Bockerek erdő" ? 15, 07,1948 - Tölcsvár (Com. Brassó) Herb. De. 25,07,1902 - Trnovac and Debelo-brdo (Com. LikaKrbava) Herb. De. 20,08,1910 - Vác 8280 (Com. Pest) at mountains "Cserhát, Cserepes hegy" U. 05,10,1971 - Visegrád 8279 (Com. Pest) Simk. 06,30,1872; Herb. De. 30,07,1916 - Volocz (Com.. Bereg) Th. 24,08,1907 - Zágráb (Com. Zágráb) Rossi 01,07,1879 - Zalalövő 9175 (Com. Zala) near to Zalaegerszeg, at mountain "Nagy hegy" U. V. 30,08,1970. Discussion The two species are recorded and devided into groups of habitats according vu tne data of labels in Table 1. Phleum pratense L. occurs in 12 different habitats, while Phleum Hubbardii D. Kov. was collected only in 7. Phleum pratense gives the higher diversity of habitat values, the evenness is also high. It has comparatively high frequency values in meadows of hilly and mountainous regions of medium heights . It is often found in waste places, roadsides and margin of plough-lands also (nearly a quarter of the data). Because of its water requirement it is native on moist soils of water-meadows and other low-lying grasslands, riversides, shores of lakes, muddy places (Table 1). This frequency value is showing the capacity of adaptation for different habitats and weedy characters of this species. Phleum pratense is an important fodder plant, a relatively tall grass, it Is very suitable for hay, altough the leafy persistent indigenous strains make good pasture grasses when used in combination with other herbage plants. It has been cultivated for more than two centuries, that is evidently promoted its spraeding not only in Hungary and Europe, but in the whole world. Since the two species have often been confused with each other, it seems more probably, that the grass seeds (grains) of Phleum pratense have been mixed with those of Phleum Hubbardii (Ph. nodosum ). It may be supposed that in this way both species have spreaded in the temperate regions all over the world. Nevertheless, Phleum pratense has higher distribution and diversity of habitats. It seems very likely because the capacity of adaptation for different natural habitats of Ph. pratense is much better than of Ph. Hubbardii , moreover the weedy character of Ph. pratense also promoted to its distribution. It is supported by the fact that the herbarial specimens - are found at our herbarium and collected randomly over a long period - of Phleum pratense are nearly triple in number than Ph. Hubbardii . Phleum Hubbardii was collected mostly in different meadosw also (80.7% of data), especially from hilly (dry hilly meadows) to alpine meadows, in 56% of data, but not living in waste places and not native on moist soils (Table 1). According to the data of labels the two Phleum species could be arranged In 14 categories of altitudes (Table 2). Diversity of altitudes of both species are nearly equal, but in the case of Phleum Hubbardii it Is a little bit higher, because its adaptation for higher places seems to be better than that of Ph. pratense . Phleum Hubbardii is more frequent at about 400-500 m, while Ph . pratense is living mostly at about 100-200 m above sea level. It Is obvious that the cultivation, the weedy character and the water requirement of Phleum pratense have an Influence on its diversity of altitude also. This species is living rather in lowlands, partly on the plains, on the other hand, Phleum Hubbardii occurs mostly on the hills and mountains of medium heights, or higher places on old grassland. The Adriatic sesside Is the lowland place where Ph. Hubbardii is found in a comparatively greater percentage (Maps 1-2, Table 2). Conclusion It may be supposed that the two Phleum species were cutivated under the name of Phleum pratense , as an important fodder plant. Nevertheless Ph. pratense is more distributed and has higher diversity of natural habitats than Ph . Hubbardii . Ph. pratense shows greater adaptability to different habitats, probably partly issuing from its weedy character. All the two species mostly are
