Differences of metal concentrations and morpho-anatomical adaptations between obligate and facultative serpentinophytes from Western Serbia

Abstract

In the present study, some important macro- and micronutrients (Ca, Mg, Fe, Ni) and the trace element Cr are analyzed in the obligate serpentinophytes Fumana bonapartei and Stachys recta var. chrysophaea, Balkan endemic species, as well as in Seseli rigidum, a widespread facultative serpentinophyte. Differences of adaptive structural features between these plants relative to serpentine tolerance strategy are also presented. Our investigations were carried out on plant samples deriving from the serpentine area of Mt. Tara in Western Serbia.