Drained ash swamp (Veratro albi-Fraxinetum angustifoliae), a new association in the Nyírség, NE Hungary

B Kevey,G Lendvai,L Papp

doi:10.1556/034.61.2019.1-2.7

Abstract

This paper presents the phytosociological description of a drained swamp community, Veratro albi-Fraxinetum angustifoliae, so far found only in the Nyírség at Nyírábrány “Kis-kőrises”, “Mogyorósi-erdő”; Vámospércs “Jónásrész-Kőrises”; and Vámospércs “Jónásrész-Buzita”. The habitat of the community is transitional between that of alder swamps (Fraxino pannonicae-Alnetum glutinosae), and hardwood riparian forests (Fraxino pannonicae-Ulmetum). The community is characterised by high proportions of character species of Alnion glutinosae and Molinion coerulei as well as Quercetea pubescentis-petraeae s. l. whereas character species of the order Fagetalia are almost completely absent. It hosts several rare, often threatened species, such as Angelica palustris, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Trollius europaeus and Veratrum album.

Highlights

Hardwood riparian forests have been the subject of our long-term research on the distribution, composition and geographical variation of the forest vegetation in Hungary
1963, a community once widely distributed in moist habitats across the country, and Fraxino pannonicae-Alnetum Soó et Járai-Komlódi in JáraiKomlódi 1958, we described it as a novel association under the name Veratro albi-Fraxinetum angustifoliae Kevey et Papp L. (Kevey 2008)
Field observations on habitat characteristics of Veratro albi-Fraxinetum angustifoliae suggested its transitional nature between Fraxino pannonicae-Alnetum and Fraxino pannonicae-Ulmetum

Summary

Introduction

Hardwood riparian forests have been the subject of our long-term research on the distribution, composition and geographical variation of the forest vegetation in Hungary. No similar forest community is known to exist in the European vegetation either (BraunBlanquet 1964, Ellenberg 1986, Horvat 1938, Horvat et al 1974, Mucina et al 1993, Oberdorfer 1992a, b, Rodwell et al 2002, Willner and Grabherr 2007a, b). Because their species composition appeared to be substantially different from that of the Fraxino pannonicae-Ulmetum Soó in Aszód 1935 corr.

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Conclusion