A Chlorosis of Bracken due to Manganese Deficiency

Abstract

AT Ballochraggan, which is an area of rough hill pasture near the Port of Menteith, Perthshire, several small patches of an abnormal type of bracken were observed. The plants in these patches had a characteristic appearance, the fronds being yellow in colour, and not so robust as those of normal bracken of the same age. The sporing capacity of the plants was small, and the fronds died prematurely, being partly withered by the beginning of September. At that time their rhizomes were examined microscopically and they were found to contain smaller reserves of starch than did normal rhizomes of the same age. This difference in starch content was most marked in extreme cases of chlorosis.