Search

Festucetum vaginataeRapaics ex Soó 1929 em. Borhidi 1996 is a characteristic association of the calcareous sandy areas of the Pannonian basin; its dominant grass species is Festuca vaginata. Another typical species of these sandy areas is the newly discovered F. pseudovaginata. The question is whether F. pseudovaginataforms an independent coenotaxa? Our study proved that F. vaginataand F. pseudovaginatapopulations grow separately and compose different associations. Stands dominated by F. pseudovaginatahad a higher species richness and harboured twice as many Festuco-Brometeaspecies compared to the Festucetum vaginataestands. Diagnostic species of the Festucetum pseudovaginataeassociation are Festuca pseudovaginata, Colchicum arenarium, Ephedra distachya, Koeleria majoriflora,and Astragalus onobrychis. The number of species, the density of the individuals, and the variability and diversity of the vegetation separated it from the Festucetum vaginataeassociation; thus, it can be considered an independent endemic association. Festucetum pseudovaginataehas its own differentiating and dominant species: Carex stenophylla, Cynodon dactylon, Eryngium campestre, Kochia laniflora.