MORPHOLOGY AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF WHITE BIRCH (BETULA PENDULA ROTH) LEAVES UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF MAGNESITE POLLUTION
The results of the study on morphological characters and chemical composition of leaves of birch trees growing along the gradient of magnesite pollution shows that the nearer the source of pollutants emission the more intensive is the leaves xeromorphness: their length and width are decreased and, hence, the leaf surface and perimeter are reduced. At the same time the correlation of certain chemical elements in the leafage is changed. It is also established that the content of magnesium in white birch leaves is increased and that of calcium and zinc is reduced.