Ultramafic soils, often referred to as serpentine soils in ecological studies, impose strong chemical constraints on plant growth, particularly because of their low Ca/Mg ratios. Although forests can develop on ultramafic substrates, it remains unclear how these conditions are reflected in common woody species within forest ecosystems. This study examined multiple ultramafic and non-ultramafic forests in the cool-temperate region of Hokkaido, Japan, focusing on common canopy-forming deciduous broadleaf trees occurring on different bedrock types. Foliar Ca and Mg concentrations were analyzed in relation to soil chemical properties. Leaves from ultramafic sites consistently exhibited lower Ca/Mg ratios than those from non-ultramafic sites. This pattern was evident not only in pooled analyses but also in comparisons among sites and within widespread species such as Quercus crispula and Acer pictum, indicating that ultramafic-soil-derived low-Ca/high-Mg signatures are reflected in common woody species as well as in the specialized flora of ultramafic soils. At the same time, foliar and soil Ca/Mg ratios were not related in a simple one-to-one manner, suggesting that leaf chemistry does not directly mirror soil chemistry. In Q. crispula, presenescent leaves and leaf litter tended to exhibit higher Ca/Mg ratios than fresh leaves at both ultramafic and non-ultramafic sites. These results suggest that ultramafic-soil-derived chemical signatures persist under forested conditions, although their expression may be modified by soil-plant interactions within forest ecosystems.
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