1999-ben egy üzletház építése miatt költöztették másik épületbe a JPM Természettudományi Osztályá... more 1999-ben egy üzletház építése miatt költöztették másik épületbe a JPM Természettudományi Osztályát 1 . A Rákóczi útról költözött el a gyűjtemény és a munkatársak, ezért le kellett bontani a régi kiállítást is. Ekkor kapta meg az Osztály a Zsolnay-szobornál, a Szabadság utca sarkán álló épületet. Ebben a cikkben az azóta eltelt 25 év történéseit, az Osztály elmúlt negyed évszázadának munkáját foglaljuk össze, melyben közel 100 időszakos kiállításról, 250 publikációról, sikeres családi-és gyermekprogramokról, fesztiválokról, múzeumpedagógia nívódíjról is beszámolunk.
Transitional communities of the Villány Mts were investigated. The associations Inulo spiraeifoli... more Transitional communities of the Villány Mts were investigated. The associations Inulo spiraeifoliaeBrometum pannonici, Festuco rupicolae-Arrhenatheretum, Helleboro odori-Spiraeetum mediae and Inulo spiraeifoliae-Quercetum pubescentis were analysed in the context of north-south facing vegetation gradients. Their species composition and ecological conditions as well as their position along the gradient were evaluated in relation to the nearby communities. We found that the four communities studied not only occupy a transitional position in the topographical space, but also their species composition and ecological conditions seem to be transitional.
Studied stand of alder swamp forest (Angelico sylvestri - Alnetum glutinosae) is situated on allu... more Studied stand of alder swamp forest (Angelico sylvestri - Alnetum glutinosae) is situated on alluvial plain of river Drava. Coenological survey of designated area has been made in every year. In this paper we analyze data of five consequent years (2000-2004). There are year-to-year changes in coenological characteristics of the community. Experienced changes are connected undoubtedly to changes of water supply of the growing place.
Alluvial forests with Salix alba on floodplain of river Drava were studied in five consequent yea... more Alluvial forests with Salix alba on floodplain of river Drava were studied in five consequent years. Year-to-year changes in coenological characteristics of the community were pointed out. These changes are unambigiously connected with changes of water supply of the growing place. Preservation of natural state of the community needs temporal surface flooding connected to the river floods.
Assessing habitat naturalness belongs to the most current issues in conservation biology. It has ... more Assessing habitat naturalness belongs to the most current issues in conservation biology. It has been recognized that plants are able to indicate the naturalness of their habitat. Thus, species may be given relative naturalness indicator values (i.e. scores on an ordinal scale), reflecting their different tolerances against habitat degradation. In the present study, our first goal was to test whether relative naturalness indicator values are able to reveal known differences in naturalness levels. Our second purpose was to compare four different methodological approaches in order to identify which is the most reliable when analyzing habitat naturalness. We compared near-natural and degraded plots on the bases of (1) unweighted plot means, (2) plot medians, (3) unweighted naturalness indicator value populations, and (4) frequency-weighted naturalness indicator value populations. We found that relative naturalness indicator values performed well in differentiating among near-natural and degraded vegetation. Unweighted mean indicator values were the most reliable, but frequency-weighted indicator value populations were nearly as efficient as unweighted means. We conclude that relative naturalness indicator values provide a simple but reliable tool for estimating habitat deterioration.
A new closed rock sward association (Festuco rupicolae-Arrhenatheretum Erdős et Morschhauser, ass... more A new closed rock sward association (Festuco rupicolae-Arrhenatheretum Erdős et Morschhauser, ass. nova.) has been found and described in the Villány Mts (SW Hungary). This community lives in northern expositions, near the ridge or the plateau. Bedrock is limestone and dolomite. In the association dominated by the grasses Festuca rupicola and Arrhenatherum elatius, an unusual mixing of species can be encountered: species of the mesophilous forests, of the karst shrub-forests and of the xerophilous grasslands and rock swards occur together in this community. Description of the new community as a distinct association is supported by the PCoA ordination and the differential species. Ecological properties of the community were characterised by using ecological indicator values. This analysis also shows the dual character of the association. We analysed the new association by computing the spectra of the social behaviour types. The extraordinarily great amount of the disturbance tolerants is probably a consequence of the former grazing pressure or some other disturbance.
Thermophilous oak forests are among the most diverse forest communities in Europe, and they are i... more Thermophilous oak forests are among the most diverse forest communities in Europe, and they are important both from a phytosociological and a conservation perspective. In Hungary, they occupy large areas, including the south-facing slopes of karst mountains. Although detailed studies are available from some regions, there has been no in-depth analysis of the thermophilous forests of the Villány Mountains, the southernmost mountain region in Hungary. The aim of this study is to fill this
A list of edible plant species used for food in Hungary and among Hungarian ethnic groups of the ... more A list of edible plant species used for food in Hungary and among Hungarian ethnic groups of the Carpathian Basin during the 19th and 20th centuries based on 73 ethnographic and ethnobotanical sources and a survey among contemporary Hungarian botanists. Species used as food, spice, beverage or occasional snacks were collected. Sources mention 236 plant species belonging to 68 families. Most wild fleshy fruits (mostly Rosa, Rubus, Cornus, Ribes, Vaccinium spp.), dry fruits and seeds (Fagus, Quercus, Corylus, Castanea, Trapa spp.), several green vegetables (e.g. Rumex, Urtica, Humulus, Chenopodiaceae spp., Ranunculus ficaria), bulbs and tubers (Lathyrus tuberosus, Helianthus tuberosus, Chaerophyllum bulbosum, Allium spp.) used for food in Europe, are also known to be consumed in Hungary. A characteristic feature of Hungarian plant use is the mass consumption of the underground parts of several marsh (e.g. Typha, Phragmites, Sagittaria, Alisma, Butomus, Bolboschoenus spp., as well as the endemic (Armoracia macrocarpa) and steppe species (e.g. Crambe tataria, Rumex pseudonatronatus). Consuming wild food plants is still important among Hungarians living in Transylvania: even nowadays more than 40 species are gathered and used at some locations.
The Villany Mts have a great nature conservation importance in Hungary, since large areas are cov... more The Villany Mts have a great nature conservation importance in Hungary, since large areas are covered with natural and near-natural sub-Mediterranean plant associations, providing habitat for several valuable species. However, the western parts of the Villany Mts, including Mt Nagy, are relatively understudied, though these may also harbour natural values of significant conservation importance. Based on 127 phytosociological releves, we provide an analysis of the vegetation of Mt Nagy, in comparison with other parts of the Villany Mts. We carried out PCoA ordinations to assess the similarity of the plant communities of Mt Nagy to other parts of the Villany Mts. To characterize the naturalness of the habitats, we calculated social behaviour type spectra. We also calculated and compared the species richness of the communities. Finally, we compiled a list of protected and strictly protected plant species of Mt Nagy, based on a review of all earlier floristic publications as well as on ...
Wetlands are fragile, dynamic systems, transient at larger temporal scales and strongly affected ... more Wetlands are fragile, dynamic systems, transient at larger temporal scales and strongly affected by long-term human activities. Sustaining at least some aspects of human management, particularly traditional grazing, would be especially important as a way of maintaining the "necessary" disturbances for many endangered species. Traditional ecological knowledge represents an important source of information for erstwhile management practices. Our objective was to review historical traditional knowledge on wetland grazing and the resulting vegetation response in order to assess their relevance to biodiversity conservation. We studied the Pannonian biogeographic region and its neighborhood in Central Europe and searched ethnographic, local historical, early botanical, and agrarian sources for historical traditional knowledge in online databases and books. The findings were analyzed and interpreted by scientist, nature conservationist and traditional knowledge holder (herder) co-authors alike. Among the historical sources reviewed, we found 420 records on traditional wetland grazing, mainly from the period 1720-1970. Data showed that wetlands in the region served as basic grazing areas, particularly for cattle and pigs. We found more than 500 mentions of habitat categories and 383 mentions of plants consumed by livestock. The most important reasons for keeping livestock on wetlands were grazing, stock wintering, and surviving forage gap periods in early spring or mid-late summer. Besides grazing, other commonly mentioned effects on vegetation were trampling and uprooting. The important outcomes were vegetation becoming patchy and remaining low in height, tall-growing dominant species being suppressed, litter being removed, and microhabitats being created such as open surfaces of mud and water. These historical sources lay firm foundations for developing innovative nature conservation management methods. Traditional herders still holding wetland management knowledge could contribute to this process when done in a participatory way, fostering knowledge co-production.
Based on ethnographic and botanical sources as well as observations between 2012 and 2015, we hav... more Based on ethnographic and botanical sources as well as observations between 2012 and 2015, we have data about the sale of 130 species of wild plants in the markets of Hungary's fifth largest city. Most species, 98 of them, were sold as bouquets or wreaths, as ornamental plants. Sources reported sales of 67 wildflowers in the past, while between 2012-2015 they offered a total of 57 species in ornamental bouquets at the market but only 23 of the species sold in the past were among them. The main reason for changes in the wildflower species is that several species have become protected and hence their sale prohibited. Based on the available data, only 30 species of herbs and edible plants gathered in the wild were sold-10 species as wild vegetables, 6 species as flowers, and 18 species as fruits. Today, of the edible wild species, mostly wild fruits and wild onions are available on a regular basis. Because the sale of medicinal plants became regulated very early on, their sale in the markets is not common, available mostly through wholesalers and already processed. Even today it is mostly edible herbs that are available in the market. During the 4 years of observation, they also sold 38 mushroom species in the markets of Pécs as forest products.
Rising abruptly from the surrounding region, the Villány Mts. form a unique mountain range of Hun... more Rising abruptly from the surrounding region, the Villány Mts. form a unique mountain range of Hungary, with submedterranean climatic influences, a peculiar flora and vegetation, and protected and strictly protected reserves of considerable nature conservation importance. In the past, it was almost literally an island, bordered by marshy areas to the south, thus it was important for agricultural use not only for the settlements situated at the southern mountain foots, but also for settlements from the nearby Ormánság region, which usually possessed vineyards here. Therefore, the vegetation of the Villány Mts. has undergone major changes, or at least the land-use has considerably influenced the present state of its vegetation. In this paper I collected historical data referring to land-use practices and relevant from a botanist’s perspective, based on historical, geographical-literary and archived sources. The ancient state of the landscape has been modified by humans since the paleolithic, but mainly the neolithic cultures, as the region has been continuously inhabited ever since, with a dense network of settlements, regional economic and religious centers, market towns and a 13th-century fortresses. The stony south-facing slopes were used as xeric mountain pastures (there is no grazing any more). Using the mountain-foot slopes covered by loess, local inhabitants have developed the area into a famous wine-region. The historical sources allow a relatively accurate reconstruction of the history of the areas of considerable nature conservation importance (near Nagyharsány: Mt Szársomlyó and the southern slope of Mt Fekete). Their use must have been considerable almost ontinuously (mainly for grazing and logging). In many cases the secondary origin of certain areas can be verified (abandoned vineyards and orchards), but the most valuable secondary habitats have regenerated from the natural flora of the surrounding areas, which was supported by the abiotic conditions as well (eroded stony surfaces or only shallow and nutrient-poor soils). The views on the geological, mountain formation processes as the only causes for the barrennes of the south-facing slope of Mt Szársomlyó may need a re-consideration in light of the new findings.
In this article we review the use of tree saps in northern and eastern Europe. Published accounts... more In this article we review the use of tree saps in northern and eastern Europe. Published accounts by travellers, ethnologists and ethnobotanists were searched for historical and contemporary details. Field observations made by the authors have also been used. The presented data shows that the use of tree sap has occurred in most north and eastern European countries. It can be assumed that tree saps were most used where there were extensive stands of birch or maple trees, as these two genera generally produce the largest amount of sap. The taxa most commonly used have been Betula pendula, B. pubescens, and Acer platanoides, but scattered data on the use of several other taxa are presented. Tree sap was used as a fresh drink, but also as an ingredient in food and beverages. It was also fermented to make light alcoholic products like ale and wine. Other folk uses of tree saps vary from supplementary nutrition in the form of sugar, minerals and vitamins, to cosmetic applications for skin and hair and folk medicinal use. Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are the only countries where the gathering and use of sap (mainly birch sap) has remained an important activity until recently, due to the existence of large birch forests, low population density and the incorporation of sap into the former Soviet economic system. It is evident that gathering sap from birch and other trees was more widespread in earlier times. There are records indicating extensive use of tree saps from Scandinavia, Poland, Slovakia and Romania, but it is primarily of a historical character. The extraction of tree sap in these countries is nowadays viewed as a curiosity carried out only by a few individuals. However, tree saps have been regaining popularity in urban settings through niche trading.
A list of plant species used for food in Hungary and among Hungarian ethnic groups of the Carpath... more A list of plant species used for food in Hungary and among Hungarian ethnic groups of the Carpathian Basin during the 19th and 20th centuries was compiled from 71 ethnographic and ethnobotanical sources and a survey among contemporary Hungarian botanists. Species used as food, spice, beverage or occasional snacks were collected. Sources mention 236 plant species belonging to 68 families. Most wild fleshy fruits (mostly Rosa, Rubus, Cornus, Ribes, Vaccinium spp.), dry fruits and seeds (Fagus, Quercus, Corylus, Castanea, Trapa spp.), several green vegetables (e.g. Rumex, Urtica, Humulus, Chenopodiaceae spp., Ranunculus ficaria), bulbs and tubers (Lathyrus tuberosus, Helianthus tuberosus, Chaerophyllum bulbosum, Allium spp.) used for food in Europe, are also known to be consumed in Hungary. A characteristic feature of Hungarian plant use was the mass consumption of the underground parts of several marsh (e.g. Typha, Phragmites, Sagittaria, Alisma, Butomus, Bolboschoenus spp., as well as the endemic Armoracia macrocarpa) and steppe species (e.g. Crambe tataria, Rumex pseudonatronatus). Consuming wild food plants is still important among Hungarians living in Transylvania: even nowadays more than 40 species are gathered and used at some locations.
Elfeledett növényeink. A népi növényhasználat fajai és használatuk. Etnobotanikai összesítés, 2024
A régi növényhasználat fajait és gyakorlati ismereteit közel 400 szerző gyűjtései nyomán, 510 iro... more A régi növényhasználat fajait és gyakorlati ismereteit közel 400 szerző gyűjtései nyomán, 510 irodalmi forrásból és 150 mai adatközlő tudása, emlékei alapján összesíti az Elfeledett növényeink című könyv. A régi korokban a növények, azon belül is a vadnövények felhasználása az emberek mindennapi életében a mainál lényegesen nagyobb jelentőségű volt. Az egykor gazdag gyakorlati tudást botanikai alapokon, növényfajonként és tematikusan is gyűjtve, adatbázisban rendszerezve ismerhetjük meg. Közel 350 növényfaj sokrétű használata szerepel a könyvben, köztük mintegy 200 ehető vadnövény, 200 háztartási munkában használt faj, 100, ami gyermekjáték volt, 80 gyerekcsemege és legalább 50 faj, ami az ünnepek és szokások fontos növénye volt. .
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Papers by Andrea Dénes
Tree sap was used as a fresh drink, but also as an ingredient in food and beverages. It was also fermented to make light alcoholic products like ale and wine. Other folk uses of tree saps vary from supplementary nutrition in the form of sugar, minerals and vitamins, to cosmetic applications for skin and hair and folk medicinal use.
Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are the only countries where the gathering and use of sap (mainly birch sap) has remained an important activity until recently, due to the existence of large birch forests, low population density and the incorporation of sap into the former Soviet economic system.
It is evident that gathering sap from birch and other trees was more widespread in earlier times. There are records indicating extensive use of tree saps from Scandinavia, Poland, Slovakia and Romania, but it is primarily of a historical character. The extraction of tree sap in these countries is nowadays viewed as a curiosity carried out only by a few individuals. However, tree saps have been regaining popularity in urban settings through niche trading.
traditional knowledgeinEuropeispoorlydocumented.
Methods: Reviewofprimaryethnographicliterature,archivalsourcesandafewad-hocethnobotanical
field studiesinsevenselectedEasternEuropeancountries(Albania,Belarus,Bulgaria,Estonia,Hungary,
Kosovo,andPoland)wereconducted.
Results: Current orrecentlyabandonedusesof116botanicaltaxa,belongingto37familiesinfermented
food ormedicinalfoodproductswererecorded.These findings demonstratearichbio-culturaldiversity
of use,andalsoaclearprevalenceoftheuseoffruitsofthetannin-andphenolic-richRosaceaespeciesin
alcoholic, lactic-andaceticacidfermentedpreparations.Intheconsideredcountries,fermentationstill
plays(orhasplayeduntilrecentyears)acrucialroleinfolkcuisinesandthisheritagerequiresurgentand
in-depth evaluation.
Discussion: Futurestudiesshouldbeaimedatfurtherdocumentingandalsobio-evaluatingthe
ingredients andprocessesinvolvedinthepreparationofhomemadefermentedproducts,asthiscan
be usedtosupportlocal,community-baseddevelopmenteffortstofosterfoodsecurity,foodsovereignty,
and small-scalelocalfood-basedeconomies.
Books by Andrea Dénes