Conservative allocation of globoid-held mineral nutrients in Banksia grandis (Proteaceae) seeds

Abstract

Analysis of globoid-held mineral nutrients and aluminum in Banksia grandis seeds collected from two sites, one with a high aluminum content in the soil, demonstrated that there was no significant difference in the concentration or distribution of mineral nutrients between seed stocks. Even in seeds from high-aluminum soils, aluminum was not detected in the globoids and only traces of the metal were noted within calcium-rich crystals. It was concluded that a conservative regulation of nutrients occurred in B. grandis, and even in a family known for it's aluminum-accumulating potential the metal was largely excluded from the propagules. Key words: Banksia grandis, Proteaceae, aluminum, globoids, energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis.