A Villányi-hegység törmeléklejtő-erdei [Tilio tomentosae-Fraxinetum orni (A. O. Horvát 1958) Soó & Borhidi in Soó 1962

I present the results of a phytosociological analy-sis of 50 samples of oak-hornbeam forests on sand (Fraxino pannonicae-Carpinetum), which grow in the southwestern part of Hungary in Inner Somogy. The habitat of these forests is un-der slight influence of groundwater, which manifests itself in the species composition of these forests. The forests differ sharply from the oak-hornbeam forests (Helleboro dumetorum-Carpin-etum) growing on loess in the neighbouring Zselic. The species composition somewhat resembles that of hardwood gallery for-ests on sand (Knautio drymeiae-Ulmetum), beech woods on sand (Leucojo verno-Fagetum), and oak-hornbeam forests along the Dráva River (Veronico montanae-Carpinetum). The Fagetalia elements in its understorey (Actaea spicata, Astran-tia major, Dentaria enneaphyllos, Oxalis acetosella, etc.) are probably relics of the Beech I. phase (2500 and 800 B.C.) of the Holocene, when the climate was more humid and less ex-treme. It also hosts species typical of the Aremonio-Fagion alli-ance (pl. Carex strigosa, Cyclamen purpurascens, Doronicum orientale, Erythronium dens-canis, Knautia drymeia, Polysti-chum setiferum, Primula vulgaris, Ruscus aculeatus, Tamus communis, Tilia tomentosa), whereby it exhibits a moderate sub-Mediterranean character.

This paper presents the phytosociological characteristics of the oak-hornbeam forests on the Harkány plain based on an analysis of 25 phytosociological samples. These forests are only weakly influenced by groundwater, and thus exhibit features of dry oak forests. They sharply differ from the oak-hornbeam forests (Veronico montanae-Carpinetum) growing on young alluvial deposits in the neighboring Drava plain. In species composition, they most resemble the oak-hornbeam forests (Corydali cavae-Carpinetum) of the also neighboring Nagynyárád plain that is covered with loess. Thus, as an association, they are identified with the latter. Owing to the sporadic occurrence of Aremonio-Fagion elements (Lonicera caprifolium, Luzula forsteri, Primula vulgaris, Tamus communis, Tilia tomentosa), this association exhibits a moderate sub-Mediterranean character.

In this paper, the turkey oak forest fragments occurring in the Zákány Hills of SW Hungary are described and characterized based on 10 phytosociological samples. The stands grow on pebbly hilltops covered with loess. Their species composition features subcontinental-submediterranean and Illyrian influences: Anemone trifolia, Castanea sativa, Peucedanum verticillare, Polystichum setiferum, Primula vulgaris, Tamus communis. These forests are identified with the association Asphodelo-Quercetum roboris occurring in the sand hills and pebble hills in Transdanubia. Although to some degree these fragments represent transitional stands to the surrounding oak-hornbeam forests (Anemoni trifoliae-Carpinetum), they clearly differ in species composition. The association is classified into the suballiance Quercenion farnetto Kevey in Kevey et Borhidi 2005 within the alliance Quercion farnetto I. Horvat 1954.

The investigated illyrian beech forest is situated in SW Hungary. Its canopy is dominated by Tilia tomentosa and Fagus sylvatica. Statistics of phytosociological characters, flora elements, life forms and social behaviour types are given. The surveyed stands are near-natural characterised by following specialists: Ruscus hypoglossum, Lathyrus venetus, Aremonia agrimonioides, Staphylea pinnata, Galanthus nivalis, Isopyrum thalictroides, Listera ovata, Anemone nemorosa, Hepatica nobilis

Rad obrađuje šumsku vegetaciju potencijalnog Natura 2000 područja „Trešnjik” na Starčevici kodBanje Luke. Iako područje leži nadomak glavnog grada Republike Srpske, šumska vegetacija do sadanije bila istraživana. Istraživanje je ukazalo na veliki diverzitet šumskih staništa na relativno malomprostoru. Utvrđeno je ukupno sedam stanišnih tipova, klasifikovanih u dvije ekološki i florističkijasno definisane grupe: (i) Grupa stanišnih tipova bukovih šuma: (1) stanišni tip Athyrium filix-femina-Fagus sylvatica (čiste šume bukve); (2) stanišni tip Fagus sylvatica-Tilia tomentosa (šume bukvei srebrnolisne lipe); (3) stanišni tip Quercus petraea-Tilia tomentosa (degradacija prethodnog tipa,sa dominacijom lipe); (ii) Grupa stanišnih tipova kitnjakovih šuma: (4) stanišni tip Carpinus betulus-Quercus petraea (klimatogena šuma kitnjaka i graba); (5) stanišni tip Vaccinium myrtillus-Quercuspetraea (acidofilna kitnjakova šuma); (6) stanišni tip Carpinus orientalis-Quercus petraea (termofilnekitnjakove šume); (7) stanišni tip Fraxinus ornus-Carpinus orientalis (šikare bjelograbića i crnogjasena).

The aim of this study was to determine the phenolic profile, antiproliferative, and pro-apoptotic activities of Asparagus acutifolius, Tamus communis, and Ruscus aculeatus aqueous extracts against human bladder (T24) and lung cancer (A549) cell lines. Antiproliferative activity of the extracts at the concentration range from 0.5 to 4mg/ml was measured by MTT test, after the incubation period of 4, 24, 48, or 72hr. Pro-apoptotic activity of selected plant extracts against T24 and A549 cells was analyzed by flow cytometry at the concentrations of 0.5, 1, and 2mg/ml. The highest antiproliferative activity against both cancer cell lines was detected by T. communis aqueous extract. The highest pro-apoptotic effect was achieved by A. acutifolius aqueous extract and its effect was similar against A549 and T24 cells. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Wild edible plants, such as wild asparagus, black bryony, and butcher's broom represent important aspect of the Mediterranean diet. They are rich source of various natural bioactive compounds which express different biological activities (antioxidative, antiproliferative, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory…). The current trend for natural and healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, is in relation to the rapidly growing problem of chronic diseases in a modern society. Wild edible plants have a high direct-use value using them in dishes containing mixed vegetables, in soup preparation, as natural additives in fermented natural products containing cheese or fish, in water infusions (natural drinks).

Aspects of the flora and vegetation of the "Izvorul Bigăr" Nature Reserve (south-western Romania).

Field research in Duga Njiva was conducted during the growing season of 2023. A total of 372 species and subspecies of vascular plants were found. Compositae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, and Poaceae are among the most present families. The percentage supremacy of hemicryptophytes was determined in the biological spectrum of the flora of Duga Njiva. Phytogeographical analysis confirmed the dominance of European-Caucasian, Central European, and Eurasian floristic elements. The presence of six strictly protected and protected species was confirmed in the research area, as follows: Cephalanthera damasonium, Cephalanthera longifolia, Ilex aquifolium, Platanthera bifolia, Ruscus aculeatus, and Ruscus hypoglossum.

Identification of Ruscus steroidal saponins by HPLC-MS analysis

Ruscus aculeatus, Ruscus hypoglossum, and Danae racemosa are cut foliage and valuable for ornamental plants; they are also very valuable in terms of their medicinal aromatic properties. Propagating these plants using their seeds is very challenging due to deep dormancy and required pre-treatments before sowing. Ozone is a colorless gas with a pungent odor, made up of three oxygen atoms, and it offers an eco-friendly solution to break dormancy in seeds. In this study, stored seeds for four years were treated to ozone gas for 0, 15, and 30 minutes using an ozone generator that has the capacity to produce 6 grams of ozone per hour. Then, the seeds were cultured in Petri dishes containing Murashige and Skoog medium without plant growth regulators. In vitro seed germination rates were recorded 30, 40, 50, and 60 days after culture initiation. According to statistical analysis, the effects of species, duration of ozone treatments, and interaction of species and duration of ozone treatments on in vitro germination rates of seeds were statistically significant. The highest in vitro germination rates of 42%, 28%, and 24% were recorded at 30 min ozone treatment in R. aculeatus, R. hypoglossum, and D. racemosa, respectively. These results indicate that ozone application positively affects the germination of seeds.

A polycarpic, aromatic, often purplish, softly hairy or nearly glabrous perennial herb. Flowering shoots 10–30 (–60) cm long, square in section and ascending or erect. Non-flowering stems also square in section, creeping and rooting at many, but not all, nodes. Leaf laminae 4–35 (–80) × 6–40 (–80) mm, reniform to ovate–cordate, obtuse or subacute and coarsely crenate. Petioles highly variable in length from 10 mm in grassland to over 200 mm in woodland with dense canopy cover and dense ground vegetation. Bracteoles 1–1.5 mm, shortly hispid or pubescent. Flowers zygomorphic and hypogynous, borne in few (2–5)-flowered secund axillary whorls, the bracts not differing from the foliage leaves. Calyx tubular or tubular-campanulate, 15-veined, not gibbous at base, and somewhat two-lipped. Upper lip of the corolla flat with three triangular acuminate teeth that are 0.2–0.3 times as long as the tube. Lower lip with two teeth. Corolla tube narrowly obconical, straight and hairy within at the base of lower lip. Corolla (6–) 15–22 (–25) mm, usually blue–violet with purple spots on the lower lip; rarely pink or white. Stamens four, two long and two short, borne on corolla tube and lying below upper lip; anther cells at right angles to each other, each opening by a separate slit. Ovary four-celled and deeply four-lobed, each cell with one ovule. Style gynobasic, its branches equal. Hermaphrodite and male-sterile forms of flowers occur, the latter usually with smaller corollas than hermaphrodite flowers, and much-reduced, pollen-less stamens that are often included in the corolla tube. Clones usually bear either only hermaphrodite or only male-sterile flowers, but in rare cases both types are found on the same individual (Price 1991). Each flower produces a maximum of four obovoid, slightly angled, smooth nutlets with a mean air-dry mass of 0.69 mg (n = 100). Each is slightly angled owing to pressure exerted by the adjacent developing nutlets before dispersal, and each bears a grey protuberance which may be an elaiosome. The dimensions of the seed are 1.9 × 1.1 mm. Glechoma serbica Halacsy & Wettst., which has been recorded in former Jugoslavia, is probably an ecological modification of G. hederacea (Fl. Eur. 3). The southern counterpart of G. hederacea in Europe is ssp. hirsuta (Waldst. & Kit.) F. Hermann, sometimes referred to as G. hirsuta (Elias 1979, 1983). This has denser and longer hairs and longer calyx teeth than G. hederacea, and the corolla is pale blue. It has been recorded in Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, former Jugoslavia, Poland, Rumania, central and south-west Russia, Sardinia and Sicily (Fl. Eur. 3). Intermediates, which are presumably hybrids between G. hederacea and G. hirsuta, sometimes occur (Fl. Eur. 3). In eastern Asia a more or less distinct, short-pubescent race occurs that is called ssp. grandis (A. Gray) Hara [also var. grandis A. Gray and var. longituba (Nakai) Kuprian] (Hulten 1971). In North America the variety micrantha Moricand [or var. parviflora (Benth.) House] is distinguished (Hulten 1971).

Bioactivity of the extracts and compounds of Ruscus aculeatus L. and Ruscus hypoglossum L.

In this study, the phytosociological characteristics of oak-hornbeam forests in the Kerka valley, sW Hungary are summarized using 50 vegetation samples. These forests grow on alluvial soils affected by high groundwater table, and thus are best regarded as extrazonal communities exhibiting some characteristics of hardwood gallery forests. The high number of submontane elements are particularly typical of them: Aco-nitum vulparia,Adoxa moschatellina, Anemone nemorosa, Anemone ranunculoides, Asarum europaeum, Athyrium filix-femina, Cardamine bulbifera, Cerastium sylvaticum, Coryda-lis cava, Coridalis solida, Euphorbia amygdaloides, Gagea spathacea, Galanthus nivalis, Galeobdolon luteum, Isopyrum thalictroides, Knautia drymeia, Lathyrus vernus, Leucojum vernum, Lilium martagon, Luzula pilosa, Maianthemum bifo-lium, Mercurialis perennis, Milium effusum, Oxalis acetosella, Paris quadrifolia, Pulmonaria officinalis, Ranunculus lanugi-nosus, Sanicula europaea, Scilla drunensis, Stellaria holos-tea, Veronica montana, etc. The high frequency of Fritillaria meleagris is particularly noteworthy. These plants are likely to be relics of the cooler and wetter, and less extreme Beech I. phase of the Holocene. The occurrence of some sub-Med-iterranean species (Carex strigosa, Helleborus dumetorum, Knautia drymeia, Vicia oroboides) suggests some degree of relatedness to the oak-hornbeam forests in the zala Hills (Helleboro dumetorum-Carpinetum). The studied woods are sharply separated from the oak-hornbeam forests of Western Transdanubia (Cyclamini-Carpinetum), and exhibit relatively closer similarity to the oak-hornbeam forests of the Mura and Drava floodplains and the Raba River valley (Veronico montanae-Carpinetum). syntaxonomically, they are best identified with the latter under the name Veronico montanae-Carpinetum scilletosum drunensis.

This paper describes the phytosociological characteristics of the ravine forests found in the Zselic Hills, SW Hungary. The studied stands are relatively well separated from the ravine forests occurring in the mountain ranges of Hungary. They are moderately similar to the ravine forests in the Western Balkan due to their submediterranean elements (Scutellario altissimae-Aceretum [Horvát A. O. 1958] Soó et Borhidi in Soó 1962; Chrysanthemo macrophyllo-Aceretum [I. Horvat 1938] Borhidi 1963b; Omphalodo vernae-Aceretum P. Košir et Marinček 1999; Dryopterido affini-Aceretum P. Košir 2005a). This forest type is identified with the ravine forests (Polysticho setiferi-Aceretum Kevey in Borhidi et Kevey 1996) found in the Zala Hills.

The memorial complex "Jozića Koliba" is situated within the boundaries of Obrenovac Reserve forest complex. A special value of this locality is its group of protected pedunculate oak trees, which consists of six protected trees aged approximately 200 years with their crown projections. The idea to protect not only the trees themselves, but also their immediate surroundings of which the forest community forms a part, imposed the need for studying and describing the community. The study of current forest vegetation was performed according to the principle of French-Swiss school Braun-Blanquet, J (1921,1928). In total, 33 species were identified in the forest community. In the tree storey, three species were identified: Quercus robur L., Fraxinus Angustifolia Vahl. and Acer campestre L. In the herb layer, two legally protected species were identified: Ruscus aculeatus L. and Viola odorata L. The presence of nine different areal types, dominated by species of sub-central-European flora element, was established by means of a phytogeographic analysis. According to the results of the analysis of life-form representation, this community is of a phanerophyte-hemicryptophyte type, with an increased presence of geophytes.