Scaling relationships of leaf vein and areole traits versus leaf size for nine Magnoliaceae species differing in venation density.

ABSTRACT:

Premise

Across species, main leaf vein density scales inversely with leaf area (A). Yet, minor vein density manifests no clear relationship with respect to A, despite having the potential to provide important insights into the trade-off among the investments in leaf mechanical support, hydraulics, and light interception.

Methods

To examine this phenomenon, the leaves of nine Magnoliaceae leaves were sampled, and the scaling relationships among A and midrib length (ML), total vein length (TVL), total vein area (TVA), total areole area (TAA), and mean areole area (MAA) were determined. The scaling relationships between MAA and areole density (the number of areoles per unit leaf area) and between MAA and A were also analyzed.

Results

For five of the nine species, A was p

SUBMITTER: Shi P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9327518 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature