B. Papp szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 30-31. 1999-2000 (Budapest, 2000)

Szurdoki, Erzsébet, Tóth, Zoltán; Pelles, Gábor: The Sphagnum populations of the Zemplén Mts, NE Hungary

The aims of this study have been the following: - mapping Sphagnum populations of the Zemplén Mts, - grouping Sphagnum occurrences based on their habitat categories, - revision of Sphagnum specimens, collected in these areas, - comparison of recent and old data. STUDY AREA The Zemplén Mts is part of the Northern Mountain Range and is situated in the northeastern part of Hungary, between Bodrogköz and the Hernád Valley. The Zemplén Mts is strongly divided by streams, which belong to two catchment areas. These ranges, after Simon's investigations (SIMON 1977a), can be divided into two parts on the basis of climate, soil conditions and plant distribution. The description of climate, bedrock, soil and vegetation of the Zemplén Mts follows Simon's overall study (SIMON 1977a). The Carpathian influenced northern part of the mountains, has more moist and cold climate than the southern part, which has a continental influence. In the southern part, the average annual precipitation is between 550 and 700 mm, the mean annual temperature is between 8-9 °C. In the northern part, the average annual rainfall is between 700 and 800 mm and the mean annual temperature is under 8 °C. Main bedrock types are riolite, andésite and silicate, covered by brown forest soils. The subsequent zonal associations, from lower to high elevations, are usually dominated by oaks, hornbeam and beach (versions of Quercetum petraeae-cerris, Carpino-Quercetum and Fagetum). There are extensive planted spruce forests too. In the southern part, on the warm, dry and sunny slopes there are also shrub forests, open oak forests and open scrubs on loess. In the northern part of the range, on acidic soil, acidophilous oak and beech forests (Luzulo-Genisto tinctoriae-Quercetum, Luzulo-Deschampsio-Fagetum) are found with numerous Caipathian plants. In the degraded parts of the forests birch stands appear mixed with heath stands (Betulo-Callunetum). On open slopes, extensive presence of Nardetum can be observed. In addition, there are montane alder forests, fens and on the dryer parts meadows in the valleys. METHODS The nomenclature of bryophytes follows CORLEY et al. (1981, 1991) and GROLLE (1983); for vascular plants and regarding associations, SIMON (1992).