BRYOPHYTE COLLECTION IN THE HERBARIUM OF ESZTERHÁZY KÁROLY UNIVERSITY (EGR)

THE DIGITAL DATABASE OF PEAT MOSS (SPHAGNUM) SPECIES

Abstract

The paper describes the Sphagnum peatmoss collection in the cryptogamic herbarium of the Eszterházy Károly University (EGR), Eger (Hungary), according to its condition in 2012. All specimens of the peatmosses were documented by digital photographs (2835 specimens), and all data from the labels were entered into MS Excel spreadsheet. 24 % of the specimens were collected in present-day Hungary, the majority of specimens comes mainly from the neighbouring countries, but more distant European lands are represented as well as overseas continents. Hungarian specimens were collected mostly in Vas, Heves, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Veszprém and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg counties, areas with relatively more humid climate than the average of Hungary. Most of the herbarium sheets originated between 1950-1990’s. Apart from these periods the collection has hardly developed. The most prolific Hungarian collectors were: Ádám Boros, László Vajda, Tamás Pócs, Márton Balogh and Ilona Gelencsér. In addition to this, many specimens were collected by foreigners as: Richard E. Andrus, Antoine M. Cleef, Josef Duda, Adam Stebel, etc. The digital photographs and the database are property of the Department of Botany and Ecology of Eszterházy Károly University.