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(1) The growth of rooted cuttings of eight members of the Ericaceae was measured in three soils of contrasting pH and base-status. (2) The experiment differentiated between 'calcicole' species (Erica erigena, E. herbacea and E. vagans), which showed healthy growth on both calcareous and acid soils, and 'calcifuge' species (E. cinerea, E. ciliaris, E. mackaiana, E. tetralix and Calluna vulgaris), which grew well on the acid soils but showed poor growth on the calcareous soil. (3) These results supported field observations on the distribution of these species with regard to soil type.
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Marrs et al. (1978) studied this question.
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