Ferns on the walls of the Buda Castle
Abstract
It has been known for long, that some ferns can easily be settled in man-made environment, such as stone walls, wells, etc. It is interesting that even in the core of a strongly urbanised area how many fem species can find appropriate habitats. In my investigations of 20021 found seven species of ferns on the walls of the Buda Castle in the historical city centre of Budapest. The following taxa were found: Asplenium adiantum-nigrum, A. ruta-muraria, A. trichomanes, Dryopteris filix-mas, Gymnocarpium robertianum, Phyllitis scolopendrium and Thelypteris palustris. The occurrence of Asplenium adiantum-nigrum and especially Thelypteris palustris on the limestone walls of the Buda Castle was absolutely unexpected. The ferns are most abundant on the fragmented limestone walls of the southern part of the castle district. With the exception of Thelypteris palustris and Gymnocarpium robertianum there are also older, spore-producing specimens of all species.
References
Boros, Á. (1930): A páfrányok alföldi előfordulásához. - Bot. Köziem. 27: 77-78.
Degen, Á. (1925): A Phyllitis Scolopendrium (L.) Newm. újabb termőhelye a Nagyalföldön. - Magyar Bot. Lapok 24: 107.
Győrffy, I. (1929): Harasztok Csanád és Csongrád vármegyéből.-Acta Bioi., Szeged 1(2): 192-197.
Szerdahelyi, T. (1984): Rare ferns of Hungary III. The establishment of fern species in a planted pine forest. - Studia bot. hung. 17: 15-22.
Szerdahelyi, T. & Pintér, I. (1996): The establishment o f fern species and subsequent changes in a planted pine forest in Hungary. - In: Camus, J. M., Gibby, M. & Johns, R. J. (eds): Pteridology in Perspective, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, pp. 673-674.
Vida, G. & Pintér, I. (1981): The rarest interspecific Polystichum hybrid, Polystichum lonchitiforme, found in Hungary. - Acta bot. hung. 27: 455—460.
