L. Hably szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 21. 1989 (Budapest, 1989)

Mészáros, Sándor: Comparison and relations of the Hungarian and the Mongolian flora

territory is 15 times larger and ecologically more differentiated, lying at higher altitudes (average 1580 m a.s.1.), and its climate is extremely dry, with 300-400 mm of annual precipitation on the northern parts and less than 100 mm at the southern parts. The efficiency of a quantitative comparison of the floras, naturally enough, is influenced by some factors like these: neither of these countries comprise a complete phytogeographical unit or, the level of elaboration for the individual genera can be fairly different (e.g., Rubus, Hieracium). The disturbing effect of such factors could not be eliminated. The comparison of the floras was performed in respect of ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms. The comparison is mainly based on the recent monography of GRUBOV (1982) as well as on the monography „A magyar növényvilág kézikönyve" [(Handbook of the Hungarian vegetation) by SOÓ and JÁVORKA 1951, completed by SOÓ and KÁRPÁTI (1968) and SOÓ (1964-1980) as well as complementary data by DARUMAA (1983) and SZANCSIR et al. (1983, 1985).] The comparison was performed on the level of families, genera and species as well. Differences between the present flora of the two countries are treated mainly on the species level, whereas speaking about genera and families, elements in common are focused on. Finally, on the example of the genus Crepis [using the monography of BABCOCK (1947)]. I am trying to trace historical (phylogenetical) connections between the species. COMPARISON OF THE FAMILIES The number of indigenous families of ferns and flowering plants is, according to the systematics of SOÓ and JÁVORKA (1951), 112 for Hungary and 99 for Mongolia. The number of families in common is 90, 90.9% of the Mongolian families and 80.4% of the Hungarian families, respectively. The uniform structure of the Holarctic flora is demonstrated, in the first place, by the high agreement of taxa on the family level. There were only 9 Mongolian plant families the representatives of which are absent from Hungary, most of them present even within the Mongolian flora represented by one species only. These 9 families can be grouped, according to their place of origin or distribution into four groups: - the families Empetraceae and Scheuchzeriaceae are of boreal distribution, and their species can be found, nearest to Hungary, in the Carpathes - the family of Cynomoriaceae is of Asian distribution, semiarid climatic indication and Palaeomediterranean origin - three families are of American origin and amphypacific distribution comprising IncarvUlea of the family of Bignoniaceae, 1-1 Cleome species of the Capparaceae and one species of Phlox and two species of Polemonium from the family of Polemoniaceae in the Mongolian flora. According to GRUBOV (1955), IncarvUlea originates from the Tertiary, mesophylous flora of East Asia - most interesting among the families without Hungarian equivalents are possibly the Tropical families. Menispermum dauricum of the Menispermaceae reminds us, according to ENGLER (1897), the Tertiary flora, while SOÓ (1953) considered it to be the offspring of the ancient (Lower Cretaceous) genus Menispermites. The genus Mollugo, referred to the family of Aizoaceae (more recently that of the Molluginaceae) is of tropical and subtropical area, at humid productive areas. Representatives of the family of Frankeniaceae, occurring on all continents, are resistant to high salinity and originate equally from the Tropical regions.