On Causes of Gigantism in Herbaceous Plants

T. M. Poberezhnaya and A. V. Kopanina

Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Far East Division, Russian Academy of Sciences,

ul. Nauki 1B, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 693022 Russia

e-mail: ptm@imgg.ru; avk@imgg.ru

Received April 4, 2008

Abstract—Landscape-geochemical features providing for manifestation of gigantism in herbaceous plants
have been revealed in natural habitats in the south of Sakhalin and Kunashir islands. Tall herb assemblages have
proved to be associated with geochemical landscapes characterized by reducing (gley or hydrogen sulfide) con-
ditions and increased contents of petroleum hydrocarbons and some trace elements (total and movable forms).
A hypothesis is put forward that gigantism in herbaceous plants is manifested in zones of active faults, which
serve as a kind of conduits supplying endogenous heat, matter, and water to the root systems.

DOI: 10.1134/S1067413609040031

Key words: tall herbs, gigantism, landscape-geochemical conditions, trace elements, active faults, heat flow.

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