What is serpentine soil

Helena morning glory Calystegia collina var. Best, Catherine, John Thomas Howell. Walter and Irja Knight and Mary Wells. A Flora of Sonoma County. California Native Plant Society. Introduction of California Plant Life. University of California Press.

Pepperwood Vascular Flora. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Recipe for Resilience Posted on October 26, Post a comment Cancel Reply. Although restricted to western North America, Alexander, et al. The most recent treatment, Harrison and Rajakaruna , is a collection of papers written by experts in their respective fields, asking what serpentine-associated studies have revealed about broader theoretical questions in geology, evolution, and ecology.

The chapters on topics relating to earth history, evolution, ecology, and conservation confirm the value of serpentine as a model in multiple disciplines in the natural sciences. Alexander, Earl B. Serpentine geoecology of western North America: Geology, soils and vegetation.

New York: Oxford Univ. Although geographically restricted, this book explores the ecology of serpentine habitats, focusing on soils and plants but including information on other organisms animals, fungi, microorganisms where feasible. Brady, Kristy U. Kruckeberg, and Harvey D.

Bradshaw Jr. Evolutionary ecology of plant adaptation to serpentine soils. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics — DOI: An excellent review of plant adaptation to serpentine soils, this paper covers the defining features of serpentine soils and the mechanisms proposed for serpentine tolerance. It also addresses the evolution and genetics of serpentine adaptation and how speciation may occur in this type of habitat.

Brooks, Robert R. Serpentine and its vegetation: A multidisciplinary approach. Portland, OR: Dioscorides. A classic overview of serpentine geology and ecology, this volume provides a summary of early work on this habitat type and includes information on soils, plants, animals, agriculture, and vegetation.

Harrison, Susan P. Serpentine: The evolution and ecology of a model system. Berkeley: Univ. The nineteen chapters discuss how metal-enriched serpentine habitats have been used or can be used to address major questions in earth history, evolution, ecology, conservation, and restoration. An early study of serpentine vegetation in a biological hotspot with very high endemism, this monograph contains information on the climate and soils, as well as the vegetation, of serpentine sites in New Caledonia.

There is also extensive information about the elemental concentrations of plants growing on these soils, including hyperaccumulators. Proctor, John, and Stanley R.

There is usually a sharp change in vegetation from oaks and tall grasses in nonserpentine soil to small wildflowers and sparse trees in serpentine soil. In general, serpentine and nonserpentine soil can be considered a world divided. Many plants that exist on one soil type cannot survive on the other.