Rubidium flora

The rubidium content of the flora is species-specific, and is seen to vary with the age of the plants, the rubidium concentration of the soils, and their pH value. An acid pH value of the soil supports rubidium uptake (Tyler 1983, 1997, Tyler and Zohlen 1998). 

The influence of the geological origin of the biotope on the rubidium content of the flora was investigated by means of indicator plants in Central Europe. The plants employed were red clover (field and meadow varieties), rye and wheat at definite stages of development. In order to illustrate the influence of the site on the species-specific rubidium content of the four indicator... 

Tab. 1.4-1 Infl uence of the geological origin of the site on the rubidium content of the flora in Central Europe (n = 873)...

The transfer of rubidium in the food chain from flora to fauna is without problems, as it was shown to occur in two species of herbivorous mice. On average, mice and voles accumulated 9 mg, and carnivores 5 rag Rbkg DM. The difference between both groups was highly significant and showed the different rubidium intake (Anke et al. 1997). 

Flora, Essentiality, and Toxicity It appears that rubidium is easily taken up by plants, and may partly substitute for potassium sites, though not in a metabolic role. At high concentrations, therefore, rubidium is rather toxic to plants. The essentiality of rubidium in plant physiology has not yet been fully defined, and in spite of chemical similarities between rubidium and potassium, the uptake and transportation... 

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