Horváth M. Ferenc (szerk.): Vác The heart of the Danube Bend. A historical guide for residents and globetrotters (Vác, 2009)

Tartalom

THE PLACE WHERE THE PLAIN, THE MOUNTAINS AND THE DANUBE MEET

Woodland on the west side of Naszály

THE FLORA OF NASZÁLY

Naszály is situated at the intersection of three big flora areas (the Great Hungarian Plain, the Northern- and the Transdanubian Medium Mountains), on the Mid-Danubian flora boundary line.

Because of this fact, and due to the varied soil- and geological conditions, its flora and fauna are very rich in species, and it provides suitable habitat for several rare endemic species.

The flora is sharply divided by the east-west ridge: on the northern slope hornbeam-and-oak forests and beech forests, while on the southern side Turkey Oak and oak forests are the dominating floral associations.

At the northern foot of the hill, in the highland hornbeam-and-oak forests stretching as far

Non-endemic planted pine

Feather Grass

Beech forest

Oak forest

as the Gyada Field there are huge masses of Hollowroots or Fumeworts and snowdrops, and even the protected Hellebores or Christmas Roses occur. Unfortunately, deforestation in the past decades, and the settling of different

species, especially pine trees have attenuated the association, endangering its long-term survival and revival.

At 400 metres above sea level the beech forests of the Northern Medium Mountains appear on the peak as well, while the undergrowth includes Sweet Woodruff, Hairy Greenweed, Wood Melick, and at some places even Perennial Honesty.

On the southern slopes the oak forests alternate with karst-bush-forests and steppeslopes in a mosaic-like way. The undergrowth is dominated by grasses like the Tor-grass or Oryzopsis virescens, Wood Melick, and several protected species including Violet Limodore, various terrestrial orchids, Gasplant, Dwarf Iris and Hungarian Iris.

At the southern foot of the hill large areas are (or, rather, were) covered with Turkey Oak and oak forest associations, which have been diminished and transformed by forestry. Besides Wood Melicks, Wood Blue Grass are dominant, but White Wood-rush and Korean feather reed grass also appear.

Besides the dominant flora associations, there are smaller, very specific and vulnerable associations as well.

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