Zs. K. Komáromy szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 17. 1984 (Budapest, 1984)
Szerdahelyi, Tibor: Rare ferns of Hungary III. The establishment of fern species in a planted pine forest
After the pine forest had thinned as a result of damage by Fomes annosus, several mosses became established nearby the light spots. The moss carpet and its moisture content afforded chance for the establishment of the first fern species (e.g. Dryopteris filix-mas ). We have to attach great importance to the leaf-litter cover. The pine-leaf litter covering decreases the evaporation unlike deciduous leaf-litter. The growing sporophytes need light, however. The species composition Not only the number of fern species but their composition is also remarkable. Thirteen species occur here out of the 43 fern species of Hungary. Asplenium trichomanes in the grass layer is completely unexpected here. The presence of Polystichum species is also unusual. Phyllitis scolopendrium occurs as a result of planting here, but it occurs naturally near the ' Ebgondolta' forest in a brook valley. The following ferns are found in the protected area Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Rich., Dryopteris carthusiana (Vili.) H.P., Dryopteris borreri Newm., Asplenium adiantum-nigrum L., Asplenium trichomanes L., Phyllitis scolopendrium (L.) Newm., Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth., Polystichum setiferum (Forsk.) Moore ex Woyn., Polystichum aculeatum (L.) Roth., Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh., Polyp odium vulgare L., Polypodium inte rjec turn Shivas and Polystichum lonchitiforme (Halácsy) Becherer, detected VIDA & PINTER in 1981. Changes since the establishment of the ferns The moss islands formed in the grass layer acted as "cradles" of the sporohytes. When the ferns became established there were only some species in the grass layer and there were several empty patches. The spores may have come from anywhere as the wind could carry them to many hundreds of kilometres. The spores probably originated from the Gerecse Mountains or the Transdanubian Mountains. Later having grown up and increased in numbers, the ferns formed spots and
