SERPENTINE AND ITS VEGETATION A Multidisciplinary Approach by Robert Richard Brooks, Ph.D. CROOM HELM London and Sydney
CONTENTS PREFACE 1 PART ONE SERPENTINE ECOLOGY Chapter 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION 5 Chapter 2 THE NATURE, OCCURRENCE, AND COMPOSITION OF ULTRAMAFIC ROCKS 2.1 Introduction 8 2.2 Ultramafic rock associations 9 2.3 The mineralogy and major element composition of ultramafic rocks 13 2.4 Serpentinization of ultramafic rocks 15 2.5 Trace elements in ultramafic rocks 15 Chapter 3 THE FORMATION AND COMPOSITION OF SERPENTINE SOILS 3.1 Introduction 18 3.2 Some physical properties of serpentine soils 19 3.3 Lateritic soils 20 3.4 Siderophiles and plant nutrients in serpentine soils >.. 24 3.5 The genesis of serpentine soils 26 3.6 Biological weathering 28 Chapter 4 THE SERPENTINE FACTOR 4.1 Introduction 32 4.2 Plant-available concentrations of elements in serpentine soils... 33 4.3 Toxic heavy metals as a serpentine factor 38 4.4 Calcium and magnesium as serpentine factors 44 4.5 General conclusions 53 Chapter 5 SERPENTINE AND AGRICULTURE 5.1 Introduction 60 5.2 Serpentine as an additive to fertilizers 60 5.3 Agricultural exploitation of serpentine soils 61 5.4 Revegetating serpentinitic mine dumps and tailings 65 Chapter 6 PLANT EVOLUTION AND SERPENTINE 6.1 Introduction 70 6.2 Neoendemism, palaeoendemism and the time factor 70 6.3 Studies of speciation among serpentine plants 76
Chapter 7 ANIMALS AND SERPENTINE 7.1 Introduction 80 7.2 Mammals and serpentine 80 7.3 Fish, reptiles and serpentine 81 7.4 Insects and serpentine 81 Chapter 8 THE DISTRIBUTION AND PHYTOCHEMISTRY OF PLANTS WHICH HYPERACCUMULATE NICKEL 8.1 Introduction 85 8.2 The distribution of hyperaccumulators of nickel 92 8.3 The phytochemistry of hyperaccumulators of nickel 97 8.4 General discussion 103 Chapter 9 KIMBERLITES, CARBONATITES AND THEIR VEGETATION 9.1 Introduction 109 9.2 The composition and distribution of kimberlites 109 9.3 The vegetation of kimberlites and carbonatites 112 PART TWO SERPENTINE VEGETATION OF THE WORLD Chapter 10 121 INTRODUCTION TO SERPENTINE VEGETATION OF THE WORLD Chapter 11 NORTH AMERICA 11.1 Geology and tectonics 125 11.2 Western North America 125 11.3 Eastern United States 139 11.4 Eastern Canada 147 Chapter 12 TROPICAL AMERICA 12.1 Introduction 159 12.2 Cuba 159 12.3 Puerto Rico 165 12.4 Brazil 166 Chapter 13 NORTHWEST EUROPE 13.1 Geology and tectonics 170 13.2 Great Britain 170 13.3 Norway 187 13.4 Sweden 193 13.5 Finland 200 13.6 Biogeochemical prospecting in Fennoscandia 203 Chapter 14 CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN EUROPE 14.1 Geology and tectonics 208 14.2 The Iberian Peninsula 208 14.3 Continental France 219 14.4 Central Europe 222
14.5 Italy and Corsica 225 14.6 Yugoslavia and Albania 234 14.7 Greece 242 14.8 A summary of serpentine plant communities in the whole of Europe 252 Chapter 15 CONTINENTAL ASIA 15.1 Geology and tectonics 260 15.2 Russia in Asia 262 15.3 Anatolia 268 15.4 Iran 274 15.5 Oman 276 15.6 India and Sri Lanka 276 Chapter 16 JAPAN 16.1 Geology and tectonics 281 16.2 Historical introduction to the serpentine vegetation of Japan....281 16.3 A broad overview of the Japanese serpentine flora 284 16.4 The phytosociology of the Japanese serpentine flora 286 16.5 The serpentine vegetation of specific regions of Japan 289 16.6 Disjunctions in Japanese serpentine plants 297 16.7 The composition and origin of the serpentine flora of Japan 297 16.8 Biogeochemical studies on Japanese serpentine plants 299 Chapter 17 AFRICA 17.1 Geology and tectonics 303 17.2 Zimbabwe 303 17.3 South Africa 311 17.4 Phytosociological studies of the serpentine flora of Southern Africa i", 312 17.4 Biogeochemical studies of the serpentine flora of Southern Africa 312 Chapter 18 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO 18.1 The environment 316 18.2 The serpentine vegetation 319 Chapter 19 NEW CALEDONIA 19.1 The environment 330 19.2 Soils " 331 19.3 General overview of the serpentine flora of New Caledonia 332 19.4 Plant communities over serpentine 334 19.5 Biogeochemical investigations on the serpentine flora 345 19.6 General conclusions 350 Chapter 20 AUSTRALIA 20.1 General geology and tectonics 354 20.2 The geology of the Yilgarn Craton 354 20.3 The vegetation types of Western Australia 357
20.4 The serpentine vegetation of Western Australia 359 20.5 Biogeochemical studies in Western Australia 368 20.6 Studies on the serpentine vegetation of the Coolac Serpentinite Belt 370 Chapter 21 NEW ZEALAND 21.1 Geology and tectonics 375 21.2 An overview of the New Zealand serpentine vegetation 375 21.3 A description of the vegetation of selected serpentine sites... 382 21.4 Biogeochemical studies on the serpentine flora 394 21.5 Ecotypic differentiation in the New Zealand serpentine flora... 397 EPILOGUE 401 GLOSSARY OF TERMS 403 BOTANICAL INDEX 409 GEOGRAPHICAL INDEX 441 SUBJECT INDEX 449