The Physiology and Ecology of the Calcifuge Habit in Eriophorum Angustifolium

Abstract

E. angustifolium cuttings were used for the determination of the effect of Ca, Mg and acidity. Mg, like Ca, reduces dry weight. Another striking feature of "high Mg" was the length and number of root hairs. Effects of acidity are: (1) the Ca absorption increases as the acidity of the solution decreases; (2) the opt. pH for the growth of Eriophorum may vary with the Ca content; (3) the effect of basic ratio on yield appears to decrease with decreasing acidity but the effect on water relations may be more clearly marked in less acid solutions. Exp. results on natural habitat factors were obtained by testing bog water as a growth medium in its unchanged condition as compared with 7 other samples which had been altered by changing the pH. Similarly fen water was altered and used for a growth medium.[long dash]Moorland plants like Eriophorum can thrive under a variety of conditions which are separately unfavorable to most plants. When these conditions are low Ca, high acidity and peaty toxins, often in conjunction with N and O2 deficiency, the result may be to exclude every other type of plant from the habitat. The composition of the culture solutions is given.