Contrasting water, dry matter and air contents distinguish orthophylls, sclerophylls and succophylls (leaf succulents).

ABSTRACT: Differences in leaf texture (hardness, thickness) distinguish orthophylls (soft leaves), sclerophylls (hard leaves) and (semi)succophylls (water-storing leaves). Texture is controlled by dry matter, water and air contents. Our aim was to a) identify the best index of succulence, b) assess how these three components vary with leaf type, and c) derive bounds for these properties among the four main leaf-texture classes. Eight contrasting species from the Namib Desert, South Africa were assessed for their leaf area (A), thickness (z), dry mass (D), saturated water content (Q), and relative volume of dry matter, water and air to derive various indices of leaf texture. Q/A (= Q_V•z), where Q_V is saturated water storage per unit volume of leaf and z is leaf thickness is an i

SUBMITTER: Lamont BB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11926024 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature