The Incidence of Lime-Chlorosis in the Natural Vegetation of England

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Abstract
A survey was carried out to estimate the frequency of limechlorosis in the natural vegetation of England. Vegetation on Carboniferous limestone, especially that in Derbyshire, and on the southern Chalk showed a high incidence, while that on Oolitic rocks and on Magnesian limestone was littel affected. The calcium-rich andesitic areas of Northumberland were free from chlorosis. There were considerable fluctuations in the overall intensity of chlorosis from year to year and seasonal variation was apparent. The symptoms were most severe in the spring and early summer. Species of flowering plants differed strikingly in their susceptibility to the condition. Many of the species which were of widespread occurrence in affected areas showed no chlorosis; others were affected only at sites having a high incidence of chlorosis, while a 3rd group had large numbers of chlorotic individuals at the majority of sites examined. Although the species found to be chlorotic on at least 1 occasion numbered 144, the total quantity of chlorotic foliage observed was small. There was little evidence that fatalities are directly associated with chlorosis. Reasons for this are suggested and the ecological significance of the observations is considered.