Zs. P. Komáromy szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 15. 1981 (Budapest, 1981)

Kováts, Dezső: Distribution and diversity of Phleum alpinum L. and Phleum commutatum Gaud. (Poaceae) in the Carpathians

Discussion The two Phleum taxa are recorded and divided into categories of altitudes and groups of habitats, according to the data of lebels, in Tables 1 and 2. Phleum commutatum Gaud, occurs in 14 different categories of altitudes, while Ph. alpinum L. was collected only in 10. Ph. commu tatum Gaud, gives the higher diversity of altitude and habitat values, the evennes is also high. Both of the two taxa have the highest frequency values In the subalpine region (1500-2 000 m.s.m. Table 1), in subalpine meadows (about 1300-2100 m.s.m. Table 2). Beside this, Ph. alpinum L. is frequent in alpine regions, alpine meadows (about 1900-2000 - 2500 m.s.m.), against Ph. commutatum Gaud, which was collected in rather lower-lying grasslands, mountains of medium heights (900-1500 m.s.m. Table 1), in pine woods and mountain meadows (about 7001600 m.s.m. Table 2). This small area survey of distribution confirms NORDENSKIÖLD'

s (I.e.) investigations. Moreover, according to her Phleum commutatum Gaud, has the wider distribution - the widest among the four Phleum species - occurring both in the northern and southern hemispheres within the arctic regions, as well as within the greater part of the alpine and subalpine areas of the world. Phleum alpinum L. is much more limited than Ph. commutatum Gaud. This is a much discussed problem, nevertheless there is no doubt that the polyploids generally tend to have a considerably wider area of distribution than the diploids (LOVE 1953). According to my observations the two taxa are overlapping each other in the subalpine region in the Carpathians. Moreover, Ph. alpinum L. is spreading to higher grasslands - sometimes near the nival region - from this subalpine region, while Ph. commutatum Gaud, is growing (in high percentage) in lower mountains of medium height regions. This is quite not in agreement with NORDENSKIÖLD (I.e.) and the generally accepted hypothesis, because according to this the polyploids might be better adapted for more extreme climates than are the diploids (HAGERUP 1931, in LOVE 1953). Although LOVE (I.e.) wrote that this hypothesis did not show significant differences, moreover, there are authors who claimed the opposite. For example, the Anthoxanthum alpinum Löve et Lőve (was examined by OESTER GR E 1962, in FAV

ARGER 1967) and Lotus alpinum (DC) Schleicher (examined by LARSEN 1954 and FAV ARGER 1953, in FAV ARGER 1967). These two diploid taxa are living in high mountains and the tetraploids are growing in lower places (

Anthoxanthum odoratum L. and Lotus corniculatus L.). I support this latter investigation and interpret this as follows. Species In higher ploid levels are usually more distributed and generally show greater adaptability to different habitats too, for example in agricultural areas, field margins, waste places as species in lower ploid levels. In higher altitude regions of mountains, especially beyond the snow-line, they are more natural habitats, in areas not touched by people than in lower places, where they are pastures, hay fields, may be plough-lands, areas for forestry, so the species growing here must be adapted to these different circumstances. So it seems very likely that the adaptation capacity of the tetraploid Phleum commutatum Gaud, for these different habitats is much better than of the diploid Ph. alpinum L. It seems to be supported by the fact that the herbarium specimens - are found at our herbarium and collected randomly during a long period - of Ph. commutatum Gaud

. are in greater quantities than Ph. al pinum L. Conclusion It may be supposed that these two taxa of Phleum (

Ph. alpinum L. and Ph. commutatum Gaud.) are not only ecospecies or ecotypes but they are two independent species. This is supported by NORDENSKIÖLD'

s (1945) careful cytological, morphological and ecological investigations. According to my observations, the morphological differences between the two taxa and their distribution and diversity in the Carpathians seem to confirm the above mentioned, but this requires more careful cytological and morphological studies on living plants to make It a definite statement. Acknowledgements: Thanks are due to Mrs.I.

LENGYEL, Miss M.

HANGYA and Miss J.ESZTER GÁLYOS for their help of assistance.