Divergent structural leaf trait spectra in succulent versus non-succulent plant taxa.

ABSTRACT:

Background and scope

Plant functional traits are the result of natural selection to optimize carbon gain, leading to a broad spectrum of traits across environmental gradients. Among plant traits, leaf water storage capacity is paramount for plant drought resistance. We explored whether leaf-succulent taxa follow trait correlations similar to those of non-leaf-succulent taxa to evaluate whether both are similarly constrained by relationships between leaf water storage and climate.

Methods

We tested the relationships among three leaf traits related to water storage capacity and resource use strategies in 132 species comprising three primary leaf types: succulent, sclerophyllous, and leaves with rapid returns on water investment, referred to as fast return. Correlation coeffici

SUBMITTER: Mozzi G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11341667 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature