Factors affecting iron plaque on the roots of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel

Phragmites australis (the common reed) was collected at six sites in southern Québec and Ontario, Canada, in order to study the accumulation of iron plaque on the roots. The deposition of iron oxides on roots of P. australis did not correlate directly with soil measurements; however, the amounts of iron-bound-tocarbonates fraction of the soil/sediment, responsible for the iron plaque accumulation, correlated with the % of water, % of organic matter, % of clay and pH of the substrate. Plants located very near flowing water accumulated more iron plaque on the roots than plants in other habitats through the summer; it is hypothesized that carbonates associated with iron come from the flowing water. In wetlands or sites near flowing water, most root iron was found on the surface, as iron plaque, while there was more iron inside the root in dry environments. Radial oxygen loss from the roots is probably the most important source of oxygen for the oxidation of iron.