Dolomite versus Limestone Habitats: a Study of Ionic Accumulation on a Broader Floristic Basis )

Abstract

Limestone and dolomite are widely distributed substrates in Hungarian Middle Mountain-Range. The paper deals with differences in ionic accumulation of plants growing on the rocks mentioned. The 20 species (belonging to 17 families) growing on both kind of rocks differ significantly respecting Ca, Mg concentration and Ca/Mg ratio. The similarity of the same were expressed also on the basis of 11 element content. Displaying the results on a dendrogram, a group of “conservative” species (so: all the monocotyledonous ones) could be identified. In this case the concentration of components were not essentially modified by the difference in rock-type. Opposed to them are the plastic ones (Melittis grandiflora, Chrysanthemum corymbosum, Viola cyanea, Stachys recta, Geum urbanum) . Almost for all the species analysed a marked increase was found in values of concentration of both calcium and magnesium in autumn, compared to those obtained in spring. The obligate dolomite-plants did not prove to be “magnesium accumulators”.