Some Chemical Factors Influencing the Distribution of Aquatic Plants in Minnesota

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Abstract
As detd. from investigations of 225 Minnesota lakes and streams, the aquatic plants of these waters fall into 3 general groups when related to water chem-istry: (1) the soft-water flora of which Lobelia dortmanna, Isoetes braunii and Eriocaulon septangulare are typical, and which is usually limited to waters with a total alkalinity125 ppm., and a summer pH of surface waters between 8.4 and 9.2. Some spp. are limited to a single water type; others show a wider range of tolerance. Typical hard-water spp. were usually lacking or rare in waters with a total alkalinity300 ppm. Typical alkali-water spp. were not taken from waters with a sulfate ion conc.<50 ppm. Chemical data for waters associated with 85 of the commoner aquatic plants are included. Exptl. growth of L. dortmanna, R. occidentalis and Lemna minor in natural waters of different chemical qualities shows that these spp. do not make successful growth in waters differing from those in which they naturally occur.

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