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)

In the flora of Strázsa- and Tábla-hegy the percentage contribution of the continental floristical element group is outstandingly high yet that of the Mediterranean group is also higher than the average values of the Hungarian flora (Fig. 1). This also indicates that Strázsa-hegy and its neighbouring area lie in a phytogeographical boundary zone - in the line of the "Middle Danubian Flora Segregative" (ZÓLYOMI 1942) or meeting place (BORHIDI 1997). Strázsa- and Tábla-hegy have characteristically central European-continental, xerotherm flora. The strong continental feature of the flora is revealed by the high percentage of the continental species group (Strázsa-hegy -21%, Tábla-hegy - 23%). The continental feature also appears on the level of plant communities which is supported by the extensive grass associations and the forest-steppe vegetation. Conspicuous lack of atlantic taxa (-2%) - also supporting continentality refer climatic conditions of the area. Neither the habitats nor the plant communities of the area provide so-called microclimatic corners where the atlantic taxa could find favourable circumstances. Low proportion of circumpolar elements (-4%) can be explained by the habitat characteristics of the area - primarily the lack of certain hygrophilous vegetation types (e.g. tall sedges). The high number of flora elements reflecting degradation is manifested in the high proportion of adventive (ca 3%) and cosmopolitan (ca 7.5%) plants. An overall picture of the phytogeography of the area may be drawn through the percental contribution of selected larger plant families (Fig. 2). The continental, xerotherm and steppe features of the flora appear in the following values: the Poaceae family (10.5%) and the Fabaceae family (which shows the highest diversity in the Eurasian steppes - ca 7.5%) have much higher proportion than that of the central European average (EHRENDORFER 1973). Nearly half of the Astragalus species (5 species: A. austriacus, A. cicer, A. exscapus, A. glycyphyllos, A. onobrychis) of the Hungarian flora occur in this small area. From the Asteraceae (14%) family those taxa are present in considerable numbers which appear tied to steppe meadows, dry grassy areas or forest-steppes such as the inulas (Inula britannica, I. conyza, I. ensifolia, I. germanica, I. hirta, I. oculus-christi), and centaureas (Centaurea biebersteinii, C. sadleriana, C. stenolepis, C. triumfetti subsp. aligera). From the view of floristics, phytogeography and nature conservation, equally important other species of the Asteraceae family are: Cirsium pannonicum, Crepis praemorsa, Scorzonera austriaca, S. hispanica, Taraxacum serotinum, Tragopogonfloccosus. Higher proportion of the Apiaceae family refers continental feature of the area. This is demonstrated by the coexistence of half of the domestic species of Peucedanum (4 species: P. alsaticum, P. arenarium, P. cervaria, P. oreoselinum) and 3 species of Seseli (S. annuum, S. hippomarathrum, S. osseum). Percentage of the Lamiacece family (with plants usually tied to warm, dry areas) is remarkably