B. Papp szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 32. 2001 (Budapest, 2001)

Dobolyi, Konstantin: Phytosociological and ecological evaluation of selected habitats of Telekia speciosa (Schreb.) Baumg. (Asteraceae)

Studia bot. hung. 32, pp. 165-182, 2001 PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL AND ECOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF SELECTED HABITATS OF TELEKIA SPECIOSA (SCHREB.) BAUMG. (ASTERACEAE) K. DOBOLYI Department of Botany, Hungarian Natural History Museum H-1476 Budapest, Pf. 222, Hungary; E-mail: dobolyi@bot.nhmus.hu Phytosociological and ecological investigation of Telekia speciosa habitats has been carried out in Hungary, Carpathian Mountains and on the Balkan Peninsula based on 78 relevés. The raw data matrix and the phytosociological matrix were analysed by a number of multivariate methods. Statistics of life forms, phytosociological characters, social behaviour types and ecological indicator values are given. The ecological range of Telekia speciosa is relatively wide and it occurs in numerous types of vegetation: suffruticose associations along streams, beech woodlands and riverine ash-alder woodlands. Key words: Telekia speciosa, phytosociology, ecological indicator values, social behaviour types, multivariate data analysis INTRODUCTION According to flora works the wild distribution of Telekia speciosa (Schreb.) Baumg. contains areas of the SE Alps, Carpathians, Balkan Peninsula, Asia Minor and the Caucasus. First of all it occurs in the montane habitats of cool, humid climate, usually along streams. In Hungary, native occurrence of this species is in the Bükk Mts. Other occurrences, e.g. Zemplén Mts, near Sopron, or Zala Hills among others, are surely subspontaneous or deliberately planted. On the other hand, it has long been cultivated in gardens as an ornamental plant, from where it easily escapes. In western Europe it appeared about at the beginning of the 20th century and began breeding intensively in the U. K., Germany, Belgium and in other countries. According to observations, in the last few years it started becoming an agressive invador in some places in Belgium and seriously threatens the native vegetation. Phytosociological study and examination of its ecological requirements in the native distribution range can help to understand the invasive behaviour of this species. Investigations on this matter were conducted and the results published about 20 years ago (DOBOLYI 1983). Since methods for multivariate data analysis and statistics have been developed intensively in recent years, a new evaluation of early data can provide essential new information about the ecological and phytosociological characteristics of this species. Studia Botanica Hungarica 32, 2001 Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest