B. Papp szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 36. 2005 (Budapest, 2005)

Dobolyi, Konstantin: Phytosociological evaluation and multivariate analysis of the habitat of Linum dolomiticum Borbás (Linaceae) II.

areas where Linum dolomiticum does not occur at all. This pattern does not correspond to the phytosociological and ecological pattern of the habitat, i.e. both the dense and empty areas occur in all of the mentioned vegetation types and in their transitions. Evidently, the distribution of Linum dolomiticum - besides the basic composition of the whole plant community - also depends on other ecological factors). Most typically, Linum dolomiticum occurs in northern and northwestern exposure (Table 8). This fact and characteristics of the vegetation do support the hypothesis that Linum dolomiticum is a pre-glacial or interglacial relic species. Zólyomi'

s coenotone hypothesis, regarding the survival of relic species, seems to be also proven by the results of this study. Ecotone is a transitional zone between two (or more) habitats of contrasting ecological parameters, while coenotone refers to the characteristic vegetation of the ecotone. According to Zólyomi'

s theory, ecotone and coenotone play an important role in preserving relic species (ZÓLYOMI 1987). Biological relics often need special environmental circumstances for their survival and coenotone zones can ensure and maintain these circumstances for a number of species. Physical and chemical characteristics of dolomite bedrock make it possible to develop surfaces of varied relief having very different microclimates within a relatively small area (ZÓLYOMI 1942). For this reason a series of ecotones and coenotones is found on dolomite hills. Dolomite hills have well defined vegetation, e.g. various forest types, first of all the Pannonian karst white oak low woods (CotinoQuercetum pubescentis) and the Pannonian mixed karst woods (Fago-Ometum) with characteristic grassland communities among them. Margins of these forests and their mosaics with grassland communities are typical coenotones. As it is obvious from Figure 2, the majority of the relevés does not clearly belong to any plant community of the known phytosociological categories. They represent transitions between two or more communities, i.e. they can be considered coenotones. Linum dolomiticum shows high vitality and spreading ability in these coenotone zones. Based on field experiences and the floristical composition of the relevés the following coenotones are recognisable on the habitat of Linum dolomiticum as vegetation transitions: open grassland - closed grassland, open grassland - Pannonian karst white oak low wood, open grassland - Pannonian mixed karst wood, closed grassland - Pannonian karst white oak low wood, closed grassland - Pannonian mixed karst wood. Although Seseli leucospermi-Bometumpannonici is described as a new plant community (BORHIDI 1996), this type of vegetation can be considered a coenotone