Kun, A., T. Tóth, B. Szabó, and J. Koncz. 2005. The dolomite phenomenon: relations among rocks, soils and vegetation. (Rock, soil and plant analysis on the limestones and dolomite grasslands in Hungary). Botanikai Közlemények. 92. (1-2) 1-25. (in Hungarian) The differences between the vegetation of dolomite and limestone areas in Hungary have previously been described by vegetation scientists. There was some soil and plant analysis too but these works haven’t given clear answers to why special characteristics of dolomite vegetation are formed. The author’s three questions were: 1) What kind of connection there is among the element contents of four stone types (dachstein-, sarmathian- and lajta limestones, dolomite), their soils and plants, 2) How explicable the element content of stones and soils, the differences of vegetation of four stones is and what other factors are responsible for these, and 3) Based on these reasons how the classical theory of dolomite phenomenon is justified or modified? The analysis showed that the big element concentration differences of the four stone samples decreased in the soils, and the element content was equalized still more in the examined plants. The changes in element concentration aren’t sufficient to explain the unique qualities of dolomite vegetation. On the basis of other soil attributes, the authors have found that there are fundamentally different soil formationprocesses on the four stone types. The main factors are: dynamism and the local extension of erosion and accumulation processes. There are two different groups: A.) Dahstein limestone: with concave-convex slopes and strong karst-formation, with well-developed rendzina soils (rich in humous, has good structure, good ability to provide nutritive matter and reduced pH-value). B.) Mouldering limestones (sarmathian- and lajta) and dolomite (the habitats of dolomite vegetation): with convex-concave slopes and stronger soil- and leaf litter erosion. These soils are undeveloped mixed up with rubbles and powered stones. For these reasons, the structure of soils is unfavourable, the capacity of nutriment supply is much lower. These features result in strong edaphical stress and prevent the vegetation from closure and succession. The characteristics under point B.) are called the „concrete realization of dolomite phenomenon”, so it is defined as a theory explaining the shaping of specific edaphic patterns. The main effects of the geomorphological and edaphical characteristics described above are: the prevention of the development of zonal vegetation (closed forests, scrubs). The consequence of strong edaphical stress on these stone slopes are such microclimatic conditions which are different from the existing macroclimate. In these microclimate-soil areas there are species which are very rare or absent in other places. The coexisting populations and vegetation types which were formed under influence of the dolomite phenomenon are called „dolomite flora and dolomite vegetation”.