Soil Factors Controlling Metal Ion Absorption in the Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa

The concentrations of twelve metal elements (Na, K, Rb, Mg, Ca, Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in roots, rhizomes and shoots of the wood anemone Anemone nemorosa L. from 50 woodland sites in southern Sweden were related to various soil properties incl. extractable concentrations in the soil, using a stepwise regression programme. As a mean of the three materials >500% of the variability in the biomass concentrations of most of the metals were accounted for (in Ca 76%, in Mn 68%). Extractable amount in the soil offered the best prediction of plant concentration in most elements, when only one variable was considered, but inclusion of some function of the acid-base conditions of the site usually improved the prediction considerably. In Al, Fe, and Rb the clay content was more closely related than extractable amount to plant concentration. Organic matter content was only related to the Cu concentration of the roots. A very close relationship was measured between the Rb:K ratios of the three plant components. No relationship between the exchangeable Rb: K ratio of the soil and the Rb: K ratios of the plant was found.