Roots growing in rock fissures: their morphological adaptation

On sites with shallow soil in semi-arid climate conditions, whiteleaf manzanita (Arctostaphyllos viscida) and Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii) utilize water from the bedrock. Roots of these plants occupy rock fissures as small as 100 µm Although the root stele remains cylindrical in shape without...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant and soil 1995-05, Vol.172 (2), p.181-187
Main Authors: Zwieniecki, M.A. (Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (USA). Dept. of Forest Science), Newton, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ANATOMIA DE LA PLANTA
ANATOMIE VEGETALE
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
ARBUTUS MENZIESII
Autoecology
Bedrock
Biological and medical sciences
ERICACEAE
Forest soils
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Geologic fissures
Morphology, anatomy, histology, cytology
PLANT ANATOMY
Plant cytology, morphology, systematics, chorology and evolution
Plant roots
Plants
Plants and fungi
RACINE
RAICES
Root hairs
Root stele
ROOTS
Sedimentary soils
Soil depth
Soil morphology
Spermatophyta
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Summary:On sites with shallow soil in semi-arid climate conditions, whiteleaf manzanita (Arctostaphyllos viscida) and Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii) utilize water from the bedrock. Roots of these plants occupy rock fissures as small as 100 µm Although the root stele remains cylindrical in shape without visible mechanical stress, the cortex may become flat, creating "wing-like" structures on the sides of the stele. Fine particles of soil and rock that fill the space between root cortex and rock matrices create good contact for water flow.
ISSN:0032-079X
1573-5036
DOI:10.1007/BF00011320