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Annals of Botany 75: 481-489, 1995
© 1995 Annals of Botany Company

Variation in Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench, the Purple Moor Grass, in Relation to Edaphic Environments

Kamariah Abu Salim, Derek B. Gordon, Stanley Shaw and Christopher A. Smith

Department of Biology, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri, Begawan 2028, Gadong 3186, Negra Brunei Darussalam; Department of Biological Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M1 5GD and Department of Applied Sciences and Computing, University College Salford, Salford, M6 6PU, UK

Two diverse population of Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench, one growing on a Ca2+-rich, alkaline, Leblanc waste tip, the other on an acid moorland, were investigated. It was anticipated that a comparative study of the morphology, growth and flowering patterns, protein composition, specific isoenzyme and root-surface phosphatase activities of both populations would clarify the taxonomic status of populations of Molinia and help towards understanding the ability of M. caerulea to colonize widely differing habitats. Both populations were identified as Molinia caerulea caerulea. The Molinia growing on Leblanc spoil displayed characteristics typified by r-selected plants, i.e. displaying larger flowers after faster development. Acid moorland plants showed greater vegetative development and were more typical of K-selected types. These differences between the more vigorous shoot growth of the moorland compared to the waste tip plants persisted under controlled conditions, irrespective of the media in which they were grown. Root surface phosphatase activity showed a plastic response to edaphic pH which may contribute to the success of M. caerulea caerulea in colonizing diverse habitats.Copyright 1995, 1999 Academic Press

Molinia, edaphic extremes, variation, morphometry, enzyme activities, plasticity, colonization, taxonomy


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