B. Papp szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 32. 2001 (Budapest, 2001)

Bauer, Norbert: Vascular flora of the hill Strázsa-hegy and its vicinity (Pilis Mts, Hungary)

RESULTS The small blocks of the now called "Strázsa-hegy" penetrated into the surface in the last phase of the upthrust of the Pilis Mts, therefore younger, Tertiary sediments remained in some places on the Triassic limestone forming the main body of the hills. The Pleistocene sand and loess surrounding the hills once completely covered these blocks, and these may be traced in some localities even today. Loess and sand cover are marked by the presence of Agropyron pectiniforme, Phlomis tuberosa, Achillea ochroleuca, Nepeta nuda, Helichrysum arenarium species on the hills, and the previously known - but recently not confirmed - occurrence of Ephedra distachya on Strázsa-hegy (or rather from the nearby Sátor-kő) (FEICHTINGER 1899, BOROS 1953, FEKETE 1988). Beside the remarkably rich flora of the hills, the colourful and diverse geography and geology support a peculiar, if not unique, phytogeographical position. The area lies in a so-called flora-segregating area (DOMOKOS 1939, ZÓLYOMI 1942, BOROS 1953, SOÓ 1960) - or, with a newer and probably more accurate technical term, in a flora meeting area (BORHIDI 1997). Here is the border zone of the flora districts Matricum, Bakonyicum and Arrabonicum, which units are represented by some of their character species even in this small area. The "Dorog-basin Flora Meeting Area" is an extension of the flora migration bridge between the Great Hungarian Plain and the Little Hungarian Plain with extremely heterogeneous geological background. In the flora of this area species typically known from continental areas (such as Spiraea media, Acer tataricum, Stipa tirsa, Echium maculatum, Nepeta nuda, Quercus robur and the association Ceraso-Quercetum) occur together with those of somewhat subMediterranean character (Fraxinus ornus, Lathyrus sphaericus, Piptatherum virescens, Crupina vulgaris, etc. and the association Vicio sparsiflorae-Quercetum). Also, the presence of lowland, so-called Pannonian species is significant both in the flora and vegetation of the study area (characteristic associations like Festucetum vaginatae and species such as Plantago arenaria, Dianthus serotinus, etc.). Vascular flora of Strázsa- and Tábla-hegy Despite the small size of Strázsa- and Tábla-hegy their flora is outstandingly rich. Based on reference data, discussions with friends and colleagues and the author's own research, the number of vascular plant species of the whole area is 665. The actual flora of Strázsa-hegy is somewhat richer (534 species), than that of the less diverse Tábla-hegy (461 species).