The Potential Roles of Unique Leaf Structure for the Adaptation of Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf. in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

ABSTRACT: Leaves are essential plant organs with numerous variations in shape and size. The leaf size is generally smaller in plants that thrive in areas of higher elevation and lower annual mean temperature. The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is situated at an altitude of >4000 m with relatively low annual average temperatures. Most plant species found on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau have small leaves, with Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf. being an exception. Here, we show that the large leaves of R. tanguticum with a unique three-dimensional (3D) shape are potentially an ideal solution for thermoregulation with little energy consumption. With the increase in age, the shape of R. tanguticum leaves changed from a small oval plane to a large palmatipartite 3D shape. Therefore, R. tanguticum is a highly heter

SUBMITTER: Hu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8875413 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature