Some demographic characteristics of Fritillaria meleagris (Liliaceae) in Hungary

Abstract

Fritillaria meleagris is an endangered Eurasian species with declining populations in most of its distribution area. The signifi cance of the present study is to provide details for improving methods, how age-state structure can be identifi ed in a population. This could help finding the appropriate way of site-management where this species occurs. We investigated two F. meleagris populations in the western part of Hungary (Gyékényes, Tüskeszentpéter). We grouped the recorded plants into five age-state categories: dormant, juvenile, subadult, vegetative- and reproductive adult. We investigated diff erent plant traits such as plant height, number of leaves, leaf width and leaf length. The relative frequencies of leaf numbers differed signifi cantly between the two sites each year. Generally, the majority of the flowering plants had 5-6 leaves at both sites. Only plant height was positively related to plant reproductive success, but there were no clear trends in leaf width and leaf length. There are considerable diff erences in age-state ratios between our sampling sites. The proportion of reproductive plants was noticeably higher in both years in Tüskeszentpéter. Transition into dormant state was regular from all age groups at both sites.