A colorimetric method for measuring the surface area of aquatic plants

A procedure is described that allows the determination of the surface area of aquatic plants by dipping them in a surfactant (Liquinox) dye (acridine orange) mixture and measuring the dye retained colimetrically. The method was applied to Vallisneria sp., Elodea canadensis Michx, Potamogeton richardsonii (A. Benn.) Rydb. and Myriophyllum spicatum L. For each species good relationships (0.91 < r² < 0.99) between computed area and dye retention capacity were found.