B. Papp szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 33. 2002 (Budapest, 2002)

Bebya, S.: The fir forests of the Caucasus Mountains and considerations on their preservation

(BP). All relevant literature on the flora and vegetation available to the author was studied and used throughout the investigation. DISCUSSION All facts available are proving the autochthonous mountain origin of the Abies forests of the Caucasus mountains. According to paleontológiái data, extensive Abies nordmanniana forests grew in the middle and upper mountain belt of the mountain range, at the end of the Pliocene. The species was found in association with Fagus orientális, Picea orientális and other companions that are still present in the extant Abies forests (KOLAKOWSKIJ 1956, BEBYA 1994). Floristical characteristics The relative floristical richness of their associations (207 species) is regarded as one of the distinguishing characters of the modern Abies forests of the Caucasus. Of these 207 species, 82% are elements of the Mediterranean-montane* floristical region, i.e. immigrants of high altitude flora. 38% of the species are relicts, of which 56% are woody species. With regard to species composition, in the oldgrowth indigenous forests 85% of these relicts are constantly present. Their presence amounts to 17-100%, and their phytocenotical index is over 34. Every one of the relict species is characteristic and constant in at least two forest types. Only 15% of the relicts are "optional", but even these show permanent connection with the associations of the old-growth forest types. Every one of these is typical for at least one of the forest types (BEBYA 1994). The high degree of continuity of the plant composition of the Pliocene fir forests, and those of the modern Abies stands, respectively, the sufficiently stable position of the relict species in the composition of the modern Abies forests, their comparatively high content in their Colchidean (36%) and common Caucasian (23%) endemic elements prove not only the ancient autochthonous character of this floristical centre, but also prove that the virgin Abies forests have preserved their relict characteristics. The account of morphological characters and the ecological background of the species support the supposition that Abies nordmanniana as a fir species represents an ancient evolutionary branch within the genus. Its morphological and ecological peculiarities may be viewed as the manifestations of common biological * A new "Mediterranean-montane region" was assigned for the first time by Prof. Alfred Kolakowskij in 1956. It includes only mountain regions of the Earth.