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Theme 1. Plant habitats, HU Oak-hornbeam woodlands

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Theme 1. Plant habitats, HU Oak-hornbeam woodlands

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Mesic deciduous woodlands typical at cooler, moist slopes of hills and mountains. Canopy consists of older oaks (Quercus petrea), interspearsed with beech, (Fagus sylvatica). Understory cut more frequently comprises  other tree species (beech, lime, maple). Closed canopy does not allow enough light for undergrowth, but early spring bulbous flowers may form carpets.

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Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests

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Theme 1. Plant habitats, HU Hill meadows

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Theme 1. Plant habitats, HU Hill meadows

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Mesic haymeadows and pastures of rich flora have been established in the clearings of one-time deciduous forest belts in the hills and low mountain ranges of Western- and Northern-Hungary. Abandonment of mowing and grazing having been practised for centuries results in the succession of shrubs and woodland.

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Theme 1. Plant habitats, HU Hill meadows 2

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Theme 1. Plant habitats, HU Hill meadows 2

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Huta-meadow in the Bükk Mountains. It was deforested to fuel former glass works with timber. Though its altitude is less then 1000 m, coniferous trees still feature a montanous landscape.

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Theme 1. Plant habitats, HU Halohytic habitats - Pannonic saline steppic grasslands

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Theme 1. Plant habitats, HU Halohytic habitats - Pannonic saline steppic grasslands

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The extended Pannonic saline grasslands represent the westernmost distribution of Eurasian steppes. River regaulation and drainage of marshes (19th c.) resulted in secondray salinization. Summer drought and high water table in a hard ground causes heavy salt accumulation in the upper soil layer. Habitat mosaic changes within a few cm of microrelief, according to salt level and soil water content.

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1.1. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla/M. recutita)
Scientific classification: Magnoliophyta / Asterales/Asteraceae/Matrecaria)
Morphology: Root is small, densly branched. Stem branched, erect, smooth, cylindrical,   15-60 cm long.  The long and narrow, scattered leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate. The flowers are borne in paniculate flower heads (capitula). The white ray florets are furnished with a ligule, while the disc florets are yellow. The hollow receptacle is swollen and lacks scales. The flowers bloom in early to midsummer, and have a strong, aromatic smell.

Medicinal Plant of the Year 2016!

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Theme 1. Plant habitats, HU Wet meadows - home of orchids

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Theme 1. Plant habitats, HU Wet meadows - home of orchids

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Theme 1. Plant habitats, HU Wet meadows (2)

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Theme 1. Plant habitats, HU Wet meadows (2)

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Wind-borne low ridges alternating with deep-laying peaty hollows in former floodplains form valuable wet meadows, home of many temprate  zone orchids and other flowers.

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Medicinal plants:
1.3. Medicinal traits of chamomile:

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Medicinal plants:
1.3. Medicinal traits of chamomile:

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Its flower (made for tea) is a herbal medicine for a sore stomach, irritable bowel syndrome, and as a gentle sleep aid, used as a mild laxative and is antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and bactericidal.  However, may cause allergic reactions.
Articles:
A Review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of chamomile tea (Matricaria recutita L.) (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.1900, viewed 12.03.2019); Health promoting benefits of chamomile in the elderly population (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123742285000081 - viewed 12.03.2019))

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MEDICINAL PLANTS
2.1 Milk thistle (Silybum marianum)

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MEDICINAL PLANTS
2.1 Milk thistle (Silybum marianum)

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Classification:
Angiosperms/Asterids/Asterales/Asteraceae
(Synonym: Carduus marianus L.)
Vernacular names: EN cardus marianus, , blessed milkthistle, Marian thistle, Mary thistle, Saint Mary's thistle, Mediterranean milk thistle, variegated thistle and Scotch thistle
HU: Máriatövis (Boldogasszony teje, Boldogasszony káposztája, máriabogáncs, pápafű, Szűz Mária teje, Szűz Mária tövise, tarkabogáncs) refer to the legend that Virgin Mary's breast milk painted white the marbled leaves of he plant.

Medicinal Plant of the Year 2013!

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Th 1/MEDICINAL PLANTS                 1.2 Chamomile names: 

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Th 1/MEDICINAL PLANTS                 1.2 Chamomile names: 

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Common name in Hungarian: kamilla, orvosi székfű. Vernacular names: (EN) scented mayweed, Italian/German/ Hungarian/wild chamomile; (HUN)  Szent-Iván pipitér, nemes pipitér, pipitér, anyafű, szikfű, szüzekanyja, bubulyka. Its scientific name refers to the apple-like scent of the plant (??? I disagree); chamomile blue refers to chamazulene, the purified, deep-blue essential oil derived using steam distillation.

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Key environmental stress factors

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Th1 /MEDICINAL PLANTS 2.2 Milk thistle - Morphology

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Th1 /MEDICINAL PLANTS 2.2 Milk thistle - Morphology

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It is a thorny plant presenting decorative leaves with a white pattern of veins and purple flower heads. The plant originates from mountains of the Mediterranean region. It can grow to 30 to 200 cm  tall, have an overall conical shape. The approximate maximum base diameter is 160 cm . The stem is grooved and more or less cottony. The largest specimens have hollow stems.

The leaves are oblong to lanceolate. They are either lobate or pinnate, with spiny edges. They are hairless, shiny green, with milk-white veins.

The flower heads are 4 to 12 cm long and wide, of red-purple colour. They flower from June to August in the North or December to February in the Southern Hemisphere (summer through autumn).

The bracts are hairless, with triangular, spine-edged appendages, tipped with a stout yellow spine.

The achenes are black, with a simple long white pappus, surrounded by a yellow basal ring.

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MEDICINAL PLANTS
2.3. Milk thistle - medicinal traits:

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MEDICINAL PLANTS
2.3. Milk thistle - medicinal traits:

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Silymarine, made of the seeds' oil is effective in the prevention and treatment of liver disease. Its effect in cancer treatment is, however, debated.
Articles:

Review of clinical trials evaluating safety and efficacy of milk thistle (Silybum marianum [L.] Gaertn.) (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17548793); A review of Silybum marianum (milk thistle) as a treatment for alcoholic liver disease.

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Theme 4 /Main tree species decorated during Christmas 

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Theme 4 /Main tree species decorated during Christmas 

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In temperate zone we use coniferous trees as Christmas tree. The once commonly used, native Spruce (Picea abies) has lost its popularity since it drops the short leaves rather quickly and makes a mess. Instead, the more durable Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens), with nice, silver-bluish shade is typical. Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) became fashionable lately (leaves and colours last longer in warm rooms). European silver fir (Abies alba) is rare and expensive. Some prefer long-pinnated species, such as black pine (Pinus nigra). Further rare coniferous species may be obtained at specialist gardening shops. (See more: https://www.edenkert.hu/diszkert/orokzoldek/milyen-fenyofat-valassz-karacsonyra/5444/)

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1. Cereals: wheat and rye - staple food in the form of bread; oat - oatflakes are popular in porridge, muesli and cakes in the reform cuisine, barley is used to a less extent, but both in traditional and reform foods
2. Cucurbitaceae: cucumbers, winter squash, pumpkins and melons - popular vegetables and juicy, sweet summer fruits. Flash has large moisture content.
Pumpkin yiled in my community garden allotment:

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Theme 2 /                   HUMBOLDT'S KOSMOS

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Theme 2 /                   HUMBOLDT'S KOSMOS

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The polyhistor Humboldt travelled extensively fulfiling both diplomatic assignments and scientific explorations. His observations and the lessons learnt from his travel experiences as well as data-based scientific results and understanding have formed his holistic view on the harmony of the universe, suggesting that universal laws applied to the terrestrial world and life on earth and that disciplines are interrelated. He called it he „unity of nature” and portrayed it - starting from the outer space, embracing the globe, then describing the history of science - in a five volume, comprehensive work „Kosmos” – a compendium of the world’s environment.  This influential work (compiled through 17 years) has inspired forthcoming scientists (e.g. Darwin) and artsists, and contributed to scientific progress by imparting a unifying perspective to the studies of science, nature and mankind.

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Theme 3 / Meteorological sations and instruments

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Theme 3 / Meteorological sations and instruments

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See photos of 12 different meteorological devices
(Source: www.zivatar.hu)

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Theme 4/ Two common spices and  their origin.

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Theme 4/ Two common spices and  their origin.

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1. Red pepper (paprika), (Capsicum annum) (Solanaceae family). For grinded spice, sweet or hot, the originally dark green paprika  is used when it is biologically ripe and red. Origin: Central- and South-America; Its capsaicin compound is used in medicative ointmens against musculoskeletal problems.
2. Garlic (Allium sativum). Garlic is native to Central Asia and northeastern Iran, and has long been a common seasoning worldwide, with a history of several thousand years of human consumption and use.[4][5] It was known to ancient Egyptians. The bulb is consumed. It has also curative power:  preventive medication for cardiovascular and neoplastic diseases, and has antibacterial and antifungal effect.

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Two alcoholic drinks consumed in your PlantArea together with their plant source material:
1. Pálinka - a kind of spirit of high alcohol content (45-50 %) made of various fruits (appricot, plum, grape marc, pears, quince, sour cherry, green walnuts, even red-current or mixed fruits). Home made pálinka is popular.
2. Wine – red wine, white wine, rosé – made of various grape vines. Tokaji aszú wine is a Hungarian specialty from Northeastern-Hungary, a sweet  dessert wine  made from grapes affected by noble rot.  See map of 22 Hungarian wine producing  areas within 4 vine growing regions:

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Theme 5 / Endangered plants - threatening factors

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Theme 5 / Endangered plants - threatening factors

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Waterwheel - Aldrovanda vesiculosa L. (Droseracea)
This species is a perennial, free-floating, rootless aquatic herbaceous plant, with a simple or sparsely branched stem possessing successive whorls of bristled, prey-catching leaves. Stem length is dependent upon water quality, prey abundance and irradiance, but is commonly
between 6–20 cm. The compact, whorled structure of the species provides the plant with an almost
cylindrical appearance. Under even the most optimal conditions plants produce scant numbers of viable seeds, and these are thought to originate almost entirely from self-pollination. The primary dispersive agent in it is likely to be vegetative propagules. The stenotopic nature and reliance upon carnivory of this species yield little competitive ability, and limits the species’ distribution to specific microhabitats dominated by loose and species-poor plant
communities.
Habitat loss and degradation: From 379 natural historical populations distributed throughout 124 regions in 43 countries, this species
has declined over the last century to only 50 confirmed extant locations. Two thirds of these are however found in one region within Poland and the Ukraine, with the remaining 18 sites thinly spread across four continents. Occurs in floodplains and marshes of large river deltas, extensive swamps, oxbow lakes, canals, rivers. Extensive wetland degradation is a threat, and it is undeniable that this species faces a potentially severe outlook if attempts to mediate the species decline are not swiftly made. The species  experienced numerous severe bottlenecks in its recent evolutionary history.
More threats: populations frequently isolated by around 800-1,500 km and sometimes over 2,000 km. As such the species’ distribution is highly fragmented, with suitable habitat now rare and still declining in
availability and quality. It possesses a low dispersive ability and experiences large population
fluctuations annually throughout its range. In general, populations number in the hundreds of plants or fewer and may experience up to 70-80% losses due to poor overwintering success throughout Europe. Threats of human orgin: residential and commercial development, agriculture and
aquaculture, natural systems modifications and pollution.
Waterwheel (photo: Klaus van de Weyer)

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COMPARISON OF CLIMATE OF BIOGEOGRAPHIC AREAS
I investigated three different PlantAreas. In the Pannonic Biogeographical Region (Hungary, Central-Europe) growing temperature is considered an important environmental stress factor by all. Data analysis by the National Meteorlogical Service confirms that. However, bleak prospects of more frequent weather extremes are not fully verified according to my sources. In the Atlantic Region extreme weather events are expected to occur more frequently in the future, resulting in floods and wind damage.  In my opinion, judgements of extremities are just partly based on statistical data – they are as much subjective, as well. In Portugal, Mediterranean Region, at the seasonal level, statistically significant increments of extreme heat events for spring and summer, and a decrease of cold extremes in winter were quantified. Also, attention is called to the importance of satellite imaging in plant biogeography in order to keep tracks of vegetation changes  and connect findings with relevant environmental and human induced causes.

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"Replacing fossil fuels with biofuels is highly controversial since it solves one problem but creates new ones."
Problems:
biofuel plants create new monocultures /little biodiversity; needs arable land area vs. arable land for food crops;

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Pumpkin flower. Young flower is also edible, stuffed with various things (adapted from French cuisine...)

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Theophrastus was an honoured philosopher and scholar in the ancient Athens, student and successor of Platon and Aristotle. He was interested in natural sciences, especially in plant life. He collected his observations on the various features of plants from the appearance through physiology and environmental needs to ways of use in two multi-volumed botanical books which can be considered the first works in plant systematics. Although many of his statements may sound strange by now, his books had scientific influence yet in the middle ages. Its main value is the diversified practical infomation on plants and plant groups and thedescription of Greek flora.

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Recent findings by the National Meteorlogical Service (OMSZ), HU

Climatologists stated that the annual mean temperature in Hungary is in harmony with global tendencies – an increase has been observed sine the 1980’s, but variability is larger due to the small size of the country. Amount of annual precipitation is somewhat decresing, similarly to Southern-Europe. The annual mean value between 1981-2010 was 597 mm. However, spatial and temporal distribution of precipitation highly varies. It is more difficult to demonstrate tendencies due to climate change even through a 50 year long period than in the case of temperature. Towards the end of the 20th century, there are less rainy days, but the number of rainy days with a precipitation exceeding 20 mm is slightly increasing. Nevertheless, length of dry periods have significantly grown since the beginning of the 20th century.

Source: https://www.met.hu/methu/honlap_ujdonsagok/index.php?id=2116&hir=Megujult_az_eghajlatvaltozas_magyarorszagi_megfigyeleset_bemutato_oldal

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Theme 5 / Endangered plants - threatening factors

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Theme 5 / Endangered plants - threatening factors

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Hungrian thorn - (Crataegus nigra)
Habitat: Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks), Forest, Wetlands (inland), Shrubland. Found in alluvial forests.
The species is endemic to the Carpathian Basin and the northern Balkans. Confirmed records of the species are from Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Romania and Serbia. However, it appears that the species' range has greatly

diminished in recent years, with current confirmed records known only from the Danube floodplain in Hungary and Croatia.

Earlier present in the northern Balkans, from the Danube basin, but is possibly extinct from here, with no recent records. 2009 records  in  Suva Planina Mountains, SE-Serbia require confirmation as they may be a misidentification of Crataegus pentagyna, as may records from Montenegro. (That occurs in xerotherm forests.)

Hungary: 26 recent populations known, ten populations disappeared in the last 50 years, with recent records of the species restricted to along the Danube from Csepel Island to the Hungarian border.
Hungarian thorn (photo_Kerényi-Nagy Viktor)

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Comparison of calorific value and GHG emissions of some fuels

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Hungary covers 77% of its energy need from own resources, mainly natural gas and oil.

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Theme 5 / Fossil fuels - drafts for group  work

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Theme 5 / Fossil fuels - drafts for group  work

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Theme 5 /Fossil fuels  - Biodiversity risks from fossil fuel exploitation 

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Theme 5 /Fossil fuels  - Biodiversity risks from fossil fuel exploitation 

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Theme 2 /Comparison of biogeographic areas

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Theme 2 /Comparison of biogeographic areas

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Alpine Biogeographical Region: mountain chains stretching across the majority of the countries in Europe. This biogeographical region covers only  7,6% of the continent surface but contains as many as 105 different types of habitats. Almost two thirds of the plants on the European continent are present here. High peak harbour many endemic species, lower slopes are influenced by human activity nd transition with other biogeographic regions. Pressure by tourism and recratio is a threat. (Source: Umberto's MedPlant Bioarea, Italy)

Belgium is located in two biogeographical regions: the Atlantic region  and the Continental biogeographic region.

The flora of the Philippines belongs to the Paleotropical Kingdom /Malesian Phytogeographic region /Indo-Malesian Subkingdom.
The Paleotropics is known to contain about ca. 40 endemic plant families. It is a biodiversity hotspot. The region is further divided into three island groups namely: 1) Sunda Shelf, 2) Wallacea, and 3) Sahul Shelf. Although each island groups vary on the degree of plant diversity and endemicity, they are all characterized by having  Ericaceae and Moraceae as two of the most diverse plant families in the region. The Philippines belong to the Wallacea region, and ranked second when it comes to the degree of plant endemicity next to Borneo. The most diverse flowering plant family in the Philippines is Orchidaceae followed by Rubiaceae. (Source: Jayson's PlantArea)

I have visited a huge botanical garden in Sundaland (though in Malaysia, not  the Philippines), and a samll alpine garden, too.  Both places were great experience to me, with their rich and special flora.

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Conservation NGO 'MME'
(Local group of a nationwide organization)

Contribution. to conservation work:
1) 1 coordinator
2) 50-80 volunteers needed
Where? capital city, Budapest. Locally protected area: an open, sandy grassland fragment.
When? Twice a year:  spring and autumn, adjusted to professionals' work

Action to be taken:
1. taking off large amounts of debris (dried and cut branches). Area is managed by professionals according to conservation plan, IAS bushes, trees and herbs (Eleagnus angustifolia - ezüstfa, Ailanthus altissima - bálványfa, Robinia pseudoacacia - akác, zöldjuhar, Solidago sp.)  are controlled chemically in favour of native protected species, as Hippophae rhamnoides ssp. carpatica - Homoktövis, Homoki kikerics, csikófark, homoki kocsord, madársisak, kései szegfű, etc.
2. Cutting branches by machinegrinder for mulch.

Tools needed: saw, seacteurs, loppers, gloves (100 pairs), shredder, canvases, bags
Catering:
1) tea and sandwiches for volunteer workers,
2) water tank for sanitary purposes.
Others: Portable toilet
Transport: 1 off-road car

Finance: 1. determine costs. 2. determine portion to be covered by own resources. 3. determine portion to be covered by municipal government (money or laned tools) 4. portions to be covered from other  grant proposals

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Reviewed: https://padlet.com/gnoumoutisaac
Isaac’s PlantArea is in Burkina Faso (Sudano-Zambezian phytoeographic sector, Paleotropical zone, Sahelian region), characterized by wooded and shrubby savannah, clear forsest and galery forest along rivers. Climate divided into dry and rainy seasons. Diverse geology and heterogenic soils result in a very rich flora (exotic species!) containing 1915 flowering plants, with several hundred species decribed in recent decades. Plant diversity supports a rich diversity of fauna. Soil is not very productive, pastoralism is the typical form of agriculture. Greatest environmental stress factor is drougth, natural habitats are threatened by deforestation.

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Tropical Andean trees migrate to higher altitudes where the air is cool enough to support their existence. Due to the fast climatic change they have to move faster in order to remain in equilibrium with their preferred temperatures.