Partitioning of dry mass and leaf area within plants of three species grown at elevated CO2

1. We tested the hypothesis that the net partitioning of dry mass and dry mass:area relationships is unaltered when plants are grown at elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations.
2. The total dry mass of Dactylis glomerata, Bellis perennis and Trifolium repens was higher for plants in 700 compared to 350 μmol CO₂ mol^–1 when grown hydroponically in controlled-environment cabinets.
3. Shoot:root ratios were higher and leaf area ratios and specific leaf areas lower in all species grown at elevated CO₂. Leaf mass ratio was higher in plants of B. perennis and D. glomerata grown at elevated CO₂.
4. Whilst these data suggest that CO₂ alters the net partitioning of dry mass and dry mass:leaf area relationships, allometric comparisons of the components of dry mass and leaf area suggest at most a small effect of CO₂. CO₂ changed only two of a total of 12 allometric coefficients we calculated for the three species: ν relating shoot to root dry mass was higher in D. glomerata , whilst ν relating leaf area to total dry mass was lower in T. repens .
5. CO₂ alone has very little effect on partitioning when the size of the plant is taken into account.     

Elevational Variation of Leaf Traits in Montane Rain Forest Tree Species at La Chinantla, Southern México1

Variation in leaf traits of dominant tree species in six montane rain forest communities was analyzed along an elevational gradient ranging from 1220 to 2560 m within a single basin at La Chinantla, Oaxaca, México. Three groups of characters were used: morphological (leaf shape, margin, blade configuration, and phyllotaxy), morphometric (leaf area, leaf mass per area, stomatal density, and blade length/width ratio), and anatomical (thicknesses of blade, palisade [PP], and spongy [SP] parenchymae, PP/SP ratio, and epidermis and cuticle thicknesses). The variation of morphological characteristics was only evident at the highest elevations; in contrast, thickness of leaf blade, PP, SP, as well as leaf mass per area clearly increased along the gradient, whereas leaf area was the only variable that significantly decreased with elevation. Thicknesses of epidermis and of the two cuticles were not significantly correlated with elevation. A classification analysis based on a leaf trait matrix led to the distinction between low and high elevation communities, with an approximate limit between them at ca 2300 to 2400 m. The results are discussed in light of environmental changes occurring along elevational gradients. Leaf characteristics of montane rain forest plants offer important insights about the complex roles of abiotic factors operating in these environments and supplement the traditional physiognomic classification schemes for these communities.     

Root Architecture and Root:Shoot Allocation of Shrubs and Saplings in Two Lowland Tropical Forests: Implications for Life-Form Composition1

Entire root systems of saplings of five canopy species and of six shrub and treelet species growing in lowland mixed dipterocarp forest at Andulau, Brunei were excavated and measured. Referring to a prior study at Gigante, Panama, two-way, fixed-factor ANOVAs were used to compare life–forms and sites. Rooting depth and the proportion of root surface area in the upper 20 cm of soil did not differ significantly between life-forms because some treelets/shrubs at Andulau were deep-rooted; all saplings studied were deep-rooted. The root:leaf area ratios of both saplings and treelets/ shrubs at Andulau were significantly higher than those at Gigante. We attribute this strong difference to the lower soil content of available nutrients at Andulau where rainfall shortage is less severe and regular than at Gigante. Available data on life-form composition and mortality rates in large plots are consistent with our proposal that shallow-rooted shrubs and treelets are more vulnerable to drought than deep-rooted life-forms. We suggest that future studies of water use partitioning, wood anatomy, leaf morphology, and associations with neighboring plants would benefit from an explicit examination of their relation to rooting depth.     

Integration of photosynthetic acclimation to CO2 at the whole-plant level

Primary events in photosynthetic (PS) acclimation to elevated CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]) occur at the molecular level in leaf mesophyll cells, but final growth response to [CO₂] involves acclimation responses associated with photosynthate partitioning among plant organs in relation to resources limiting growth. Source–sink interactions, particularly with regard to carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), are key determinants of PS acclimation to elevated [CO₂] at the whole-plant level. In the long term, PS and growth response to [CO₂] are dependent on genotypic and environmental factors affecting the plant's ability to develop new sinks for C, and acquire adequate N and other resources to support an enhanced growth potential. Growth at elevated [CO₂] usually increases N use efficiency because PS rates can be maintained at levels comparable to those observed at ambient [CO₂] with less N investment in PS enzymes. A frequent acclimation response, particularly under N-limited conditions, is for the accumulation of leaf carbohydrates at elevated [CO₂] to lead to repression of genes associated with the production of PS enzymes. The hypothesis that this is an adaptive response, leading to a diversion of N to plant organs where it is of greatest benefit in terms of competitive ability and reproductive fitness, needs to be more rigorously tested. The biological control mechanisms which plants have evolved to acclimate to shifts in source–sink balance caused by elevated [CO₂] are complex, and will only be fully elucidated by probing at all scales along the hierarchy from molecular to ecosystem. Use of environmental manipulations and genotypic comparisons will facilitate the testing of specific hypotheses. Improving our ability to predict PS acclimation to [CO₂] will require the integration of results from laboratory studies using simple model systems with results from whole-plant studies that include measurements of processes operating at several scales. Abbreviations: CAM, crassulacean acid metabolism; FACE, Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment; Pi, inorganic phosphate; LAR, leaf area ratio (m² g^-1); LWR, leaf weight ratio (g g^-1); NAR, net assimilation rate (g m^-2 d^{- 1}); PS, photosynthetic; RGR, relative growth rate (g g^-1 d^-1); R:S, root/shoot ratio; rubisco, ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase; RuBP, ribulose bisphosphate; SLA, specific leaf area (m² g^-1); SPS, sucrose phosphate synthase; WUE, water use efficiency (g biomass g H₂O^-1).     

Effects of interrupted K+ supply on growth and uptake of K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Na+ in spring wheat

Effects of interrupted K⁺ supply on different parameters of growth and mineral cation nutrition were evaluated for spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Svenno). K⁺ (2.0 mM) was supplied to the plants during different periods in an otherwise complete nutrient solution. Shoot growth was reduced before root growth after interruption in K⁺ supply. Root structure was greatly affected by the length of the period in K⁺ -free nutrient solution. Root length was minimal, and root branching was maximal within a narrow range of K⁺ status of the roots. This range corresponded to cultivation for the last 1 to 3 days, of 11 in total, in K⁺ -free nutrient solution, or to continuous cultivation in solution containing 0.5 to 2 mM K⁺. In comparison, both higher and lower internal/external K⁺ concentrations had inhibitory effects on root branching. However, the differing root morphology probably had no significant influence on the magnitude of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Na⁺ uptake. Uptake of Ca²⁺ and especially Mg²⁺ significantly increased after K⁺ interruption, while Na⁺ uptake was constant in the roots and slowly increased in the shoots. The two divalent cations could replace K⁺ in the cells and maintain electroneutrality down to a certain minimal range of K⁺ concentrations. This range was significantly higher in the shoot [110 to 140 μmol (g fresh weight)^?1] than in the root [20 to 30 μmol (g fresh weight)^?1]. It is suggested that the critical K⁺ values are a measure of the minimal amount of K⁺ that must be present for physiological activity in the cells. At the critical levels, K⁺ (⁸⁶Rb) influx and Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ concentrations were maximal. Below the critical K⁺ values, growth was reduced, and Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ could no longer substitute for K⁺ for electrostatic balance. In a short-term experiment, the ability of Ca²⁺ to compete with K⁺ in maintaining electroneutrality in the cells was studied in wheat seedlings with different K⁺ status. The results indicate that K⁺, which was taken up actively and fastest at the external K⁺ concentration used (2.0 mM), partly determines the size of Ca²⁺ influx.     

内蒙古锡林河流域典型草原植物叶片与细根性状在种间及种内水平上的关联

植物的叶片与细根分别作为植物体地上和地下部分重要的营养器官, 很多功能性状在二者之间存在着一定的关联性。研究这种关联有助于理解植物各性状之间的相互作用、植物生长过程中对资源的利用和分配, 以及建立细根性状的估算模型。该研究对内蒙古锡林河流域65种植物叶片与细根的氮(N)含量、磷(P)含量、N:P以及比叶面积(SLA)和比根长(SRL)进行了比较研究, 结果表明: 在种间尺度上, 叶片与细根间的N、P和N:P存在显著的相关性, 而SLA与SRL之间相关性较弱; 在种内尺度上, 叶片和细根的N、P及SLA与SRL, 在不同的物种中呈现出不同的趋势。此外, 叶片与细根性状的关联, 在不同的植物功能群之间存在差异。例如, 双子叶植物叶片与细根间的N含量显著相关, P含量不相关; 而单子叶植物二者之间的P含量显著相关, N含量无关联。该研究的主要结论是, 在相对一致的生境中, 植物叶片与细根性状的关联主要发生在不同物种之间, 在种内尺度上这种关联不明显, 这可能与植物功能性状在种内存在较小的变异幅度有关。     

Influence of Edge Exposure on Tree Seedling Species Recruitment in Tropical Rain Forest Fragments1

Edge creation has a pronounced influence on the understory vegetation, but the effects of edges on seedling species recruitment are still poorly understood. In Central Amazonia, 9–19 years after fragmentation, we recorded species richness and net seedling recruitment rate in 1 ha blocks exposed to none, one, or multiple edges within forest fragments. One‐hectare blocks were located in the center (no edge), the edge (one edge), the corners (two edges) of 10 and 100 ha fragments, and in a 1 ha fragment (four edges). In 1991, we counted all tree seedlings 5–100 cm tall found within permanent 1 m² plots located within the 1 ha blocks. In May 1993, we manually removed all seedlings that were smaller than 1 m tall from the permanent plots. Six years and five months later (October 1999), all new seedlings recruited into the plots were counted and classified into distinct morphospecies. Species richness of recruited seedlings, scaled by total seedling density, declined from the center to the edge, the corner blocks, and then to the 1 ha fragment. Overall, the four‐edged, 1 ha fragment had the poorest species richness and the non‐edged 100 ha central block the highest. The total number of recruited individuals was 40 percent less than that previously present, with the 100 ha corner having the lowest recruitment. Pairwise comparisons showed that species similarity was related to edge number for the 100 and 1 ha fragments. Species rank/abundance curves showed that a subset of species was common in all blocks within the fragments, and that the 100 ha center held more rare species than any other 1 ha block. This study demonstrated that, in a given fragment patch, the number of tree seedling species recruited varied inversely with the number of edges.     

Relationships among Rhizosphere Oxygen Deficiency,Root Restriction,Photosynthesis, and Growth in Baldcypress (Taxodium Distichum L.) Seedlings

Seedlings of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum L.) grown in sealed containers containing nutrient solution were subjected to root-zone oxygen deficiency, physical restriction, and the combined stresses in a greenhouse. After six weeks of treatments (Phase I), half of the plants were harvested. The remaining half were allowed to continue (Phase II) under various treatments except plants that had restricted roots were freed thus allowing free expansion of roots into the nutrient solution. Oxygen deficiency and root physical restriction inhibited plant gas exchange parameters. Net photosynthetic rate (PN) was significantly higher in aerated unrestricted root (AUR) plants than in aerated root restricted (AR) plants and in anaerobic root unrestricted (FUR) plants than in anaerobic root restricted (FR) plants. After Phase I, FUR plants' shoot and root biomasses were 57.0 and 30.6 % lower than those of AUR plants, and AUR plants showed 3.3 and 3.8 times greater shoot and root biomasses than the AR plants, respectively. During Phase II, PN recovered rapidly in plants under aerated conditions, but not in plants under anaerobic conditions. The removal of physical root restriction under both aerated and anaerobic conditions resulted in rapid shoot and root growth in seedlings. Hence, root restriction or root-zone anaerobiosis, reductions in plant gas exchange, and biomass production in baldcypress were closely interrelated. In addition, root release from restriction was related to the regain of photosynthetic activity and biomass growth. The results support the previously proposed source-sink feed-back inhibition of photosynthesis in plants subjected to root-zone oxygen deficiency or physical restriction.     

Responses of root length/leaf area ratio and specific root length of an understory herb, Pteridophyllum racemosum, to increases in irradiance

The understory evergreen perennial Pteridophyllum racemosum Sieb. et Zucc. (Papaveraceae) has the ability to increase root mass per unit transpiring leaf area (RMA) if irradiance increases gradually over several years. In this study, we examined how P. racemosum changes its root length/leaf area ratio and specific root length when the species encounters abrupt increases in irradiance, such as sudden and unexpected canopy openings. Plants were transplanted from a low light condition in a subalpine wave-regenerating forest (photon flux density on the forest floor relative to the full sun (RPFD) was 2.7%) to a high light condition in a glasshouse (30% RPFD) (LH treatment). Transplantation from the low light condition in the forest to a low light condition in the glasshouse (LL) and transplantation from a high light condition in the forest (33% RPFD) to a high light condition in the glasshouse (HH) were also conducted as controls. Compared to the LL plants, the LH plants exhibited significant increases in RMA and root length/leaf area ratio from 30 to 70 days after transplantation. On the other hand, the effect of increased irradiance on specific root length (SRL) was weak, and both the LL and LH plants showed increased SRL from 30 to 70 days after transplantation. Increased SRL results from longer root length per unit construction cost. We concluded that increased root length/leaf area ratio of P. racemosum in response to abrupt increases in irradiance was caused by a combination of enhanced carbon allocation to roots with increased SRL.     

Age and Long-term Growth of Trees in an Old-growth Tropical Rain Forest, Based on Analyses of Tree Rings and 14C1

In an old‐growth tropical wet forest at La Selva, Costa Rica, we combined radiocarbon (¹⁴C) dating and tree‐ring analysis to estimate the ages of large trees of canopy and emergent species spanning a broad range of wood densities and growth rates. We collected samples from the trunks of 29 fallen, dead individuals. We found that all eight sampled species formed visible growth rings, which varied considerably in distinctiveness. For five of the six species for which we combined wood anatomical studies with ¹⁴C‐dates (ring ages), the analyses demonstrated that growth rings were of annual formation. The oldest tree we found by direct ring counting was a Hymenolobium mesoamericanum Lima (Papilionaceae) specimen, with an age of ca. 530 years at the time of death. All other sampled individuals, including very large trees of slow‐growing species, had died at ages between 200 and 300 years. These results show that, even in an everwet tropical rain forest, tree growth of many species can be rhythmic, with an annual periodicity. This study thus raises the possibility of extending tree‐ring analyses throughout the tropical forest types lacking a strong dry season or annual flooding. Our findings and similar measurements from other tropical forests indicate that the maximum ages of tropical emergent trees are unlikely to be much greater than 600 years, and that these trees often die earlier from various natural causes.     

The effect of root temperature on the uptake of nitrogen and the relative size of the root system in Lolium perenne. I. Solutions containing both NH+4 and NO3−

Abstract Lolium perenne L. cv. S23 was grown in flowing culture solution, pH 5, in which the concentrations of NH₄⁺, NO₃^? and K⁺ were frequently monitored and adjusted to set values. In a pre-experimental period, plants were acclimatized to a regime in which roots were treated at 5°C with shoots at 25°C. The root temperature was then changed to one of the following, 3, 7, 9, 11, 13, 17 or 25°C, while air temperature remained at 25°C. When root temperature was increased from 5X, the relative growth rate of roots increased immediately while that of shoots changed much less for a period of approximately 9 d (phase 1). Thus, the root: shoot ratio increased, but eventually approached a new, temperature-dependent, steady value (phase 2). The fresh: freeze-dried weight ratio (i.e. water content) in shoots (and roots) increased during the first phase of morphological adjustment (phase 1). In both growth phases and at all temperatures, plants absorbed more NH₄⁺ than NO₄⁺, the tendency being extreme at temperatures below 9° where more than 85% of the N absorbed was NH₄⁺. Plants at different root temperatures, growing at markedly different rates, had very similar concentrations of total N in their tissues (cells) on a fresh weight basis, despite the fact that they derived their N with differing preference for NH₄⁺. Specific absorption rates for NH₄⁺, NO_x^?, K⁺ and H₂PO₄^? showed very marked dependence on root temperature in phase 1, but ceased to show this dependence once a steady state root: shoot ratio had been established in phase 2. The results indicate the importance of relative root size in determining ion fluxes at the root surface. At higher temperatures where the root system was relatively large, ‘demand’ per unit root was low, whereas at low temperatures roots were small relative to shoots and ‘demand’ was high enough to offset the inhibitory effects of low temperature on transport processes.     

Genetic Variation for Adaptive Traits in Bottlebrush Squirreltail in the Northern Intermountain West,United States

Adaptive‐trait correlations in plant ecology are often calculated among species, but in order to develop and characterize plant materials of target species for restoration, intraspecific comparisons are of greatest relevance. Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey (bottlebrush squirreltail) is an important component of sagebrush‐steppe communities in the northern Intermountain West, United States. We evaluated 32 accessions of E. elymoides subspecies C, a newly recognized unnamed taxon, in the field and greenhouse. Our objectives were to assess genetic diversity for putatively adaptive traits, to elucidate biological relationships among biomass, morphological, and phenological traits through correlation analysis, and to gather evidence suggesting whether these traits might be truly adaptive, that is, related to collection‐site variables. We observed a positive correlation (r = 0.73;p < 0.01) between greenhouse shoot and root biomass among accessions, suggesting that shoot and root biomass are not in an inherent trade‐off relationship across accessions. In addition, accessions with higher greenhouse shoot biomass possessed lower specific leaf area (r = ?0.43;p < 0.05) and lower specific root length (r = ?0.47,p < 0.05). Correlations between greenhouse and field‐measured productivity traits were not significant (p > 0.05), indicating seedling performance is not predictive of mature‐plant performance. Elevation was the collection‐site variable most closely correlated with plant‐measured traits, particularly phenological dates, whereas average annual precipitation was the least significant variable. Therefore, elevation may be used as an easily applied metric to match subspecies C plant material to restoration site in the northern Intermountain West.     

Changes in Forest Structure and Species Composition during Secondary Forest Succession in the Bolivian Amazon1

Changes in forest structure and species diversity throughout secondary succession were studied using a chronosequence at two sites in the Bolivian Amazon. Secondary forests ranging in age from 2 to 40 years as well as mature forests were included, making a total of 14 stands. Fifty plants per forest layer (understory, subcanopy, and canopy) were sampled using the transect of variable area technique. Mean and maximum height, total stem density, basal area, and species number were calculated at the stand level. Species diversity was calculated for each stand and for each combination of forest layer and stand. A correspondence analysis was performed, and the relationship between relative abundance of the species and stand age was modeled using a set of hierarchical models. Canopy height and basal area increased with stand age, indicating that secondary forests rapidly attain a forest structure similar in many respects to mature forests. A total of 250 species were recorded of which ca 50 percent made up 87 percent of the sampled individuals. Species diversity increased with stand age and varied among the forest layers, with the lowest diversity in the canopy. The results of the correspondence analysis indicated that species composition varies with stand age, forest layer, and site. The species composition of mature forests recovered at different rates in the different forest layers, being the slowest in the canopy layer. Species showed different patterns of abundance in relation to stand age, supporting the current model of succession.     

Allometry, root/shoot ratio and root architecture in understory saplings of deciduous dicotyledonous trees in central Japan

Plant allometry that is related to plant architecture and biomass allocation strongly influences a plants ability to grow in shaded forest understory. Some allometric traits can change with plant size. The present study compared crown and trunk allometries, root/shoot biomass allometry, and root architecture among understory saplings (0.25--5m height, except for two trees > 5 < 7 m) of seven deciduous dicotyledonous species in central Japan. Associations of the crown and trunk allometries with several plant morphological attributes were analyzed. Branch morphology (plagiotropyvs orthotropy) and life size were correlated with sapling crown and trunk allometries. Both large leaves and orthotropic branches were associated with a narrow small crown and slender trunk. The root/shoot ratio decreased rapidly with increasing plant height for saplings shorter than about 1.5 m. Less shade-tolerant species tended to have smaller root/shoot ratios for saplings taller than 1.5 m. With an increase in plant height, the branch/trunk biomass ratio decreased for saplings with plagiotropic branches but increased for saplings with orthotropic branches. Four subcanopy species (Acer distylum, Carpinus cordata, Fraxinus lanuginosa and Acanthopanax sciadophylloides) had superficial root systems; a common understory species (Sapium japonica) had a deep tap root system; and a canopy species (Magnolia obovata) and a subcanopy species (Acer tenuifolium) had heart root systems of intermediate depth. The root depth was not related to shade tolerance. Among species of the same height, the difference in fine root length can be 30-fold.     

Differences in seedling growth behaviour among species: trait correlations across species, and trait shifts along nutrient compared to rainfall gradients

1 Species-pairs from woody dicot lineages were chosen as phylogenetically independent contrasts (PICs) to represent evolutionary divergences along gradients of rainfall and nutrient stress, and within particular habitat types, in New South Wales, Australia. Seedlings were grown under controlled, favourable conditions and measurements were made for various growth, morphological and allocation traits.
2 Trait correlations across all species were identified, particularly with respect to seedling relative growth rate (RGR) and specific leaf area (SLA), a fundamental measure of allocation strategy that reflects the light-capture area deployed per unit of photosynthate invested in leaves.
3 Across all species, SLA, specific root length (SRL) and seed reserve mass were the strongest predictors of seedling RGR. That is, a syndrome of leaf and root surface maximization and low seed mass was typical of high RGR plants. This may be a high-risk strategy for individual seedlings, but one presumably mitigated by a larger number of seedlings being produced, increasing the chance that at least one will find itself in a favourable situation.
4 Syndromes of repeated attribute divergence were identified in the two sets of gradient PICs. Species from lower resource habitats generally had lower SLA. Thus, in this important respect the two gradients appeared to be variants of a more general 'stress' gradient.
5 However, trends in biomass allocation, tissue density, root morphology and seed reserve mass differed between gradients. While SLA and RGR tended to shift together along gradients and in within-habitat PICs, no single attribute emerged as the common, primary factor driving RGR divergences within contrasts. Within-habitat attribute shifts were of similar magnitude to those along gradients.     

Closely related allopatric Podalyria species from the Core Cape Subregion differ in their mechanisms for acquisition of phosphorus,growth and ecological niche

Aims In the Core Cape Subregion (CCR), a Mediterranean-climate ecosystem with infertile soils, the legume species Podalyria calyptrata and P. burchellii are in a separate clade to P. leipoldtii and P. myrtillifolia. The closely related species are allopatric, and with the west-east climate gradient and variation in soil nutrient availability in the CCR, it was hypothesized that the two closely related allopatric species would differ in their ecological niche and root:shoot ratio, specific root length (SRL) and organic acid exudation responses to phosphorus (P) supply.Methods With increasing P supply in the glasshouse, we measured plant biomass, leaf nitrogen ([N]), [P], root morphology and release of organic acids. We determined species soil and leaf [N] and [P] and climate in field sites.Important findings At low P supply, P. calyptrata roots exuded more organic acids than P. burchellii which instead produced roots with a greater SRL, and P. myrtillifolia allocated more biomass to roots than P. leipoldtii. In the field, leaf [P] and climate suggested that P. leipoldtii occupied the most oligotrophic niche followed by P. burchellii and then P. calyptrata and P. myrtillifolia. Closely related allopatric species differed in their mechanisms for P-acquisition and ecological niche, indicating that the environment overrides phylogeny in determining P-acquisition traits for these species, and suggesting that climate regulates nutrient availability, driving distribution and speciation.     

High Temperatures and Net CO2 Uptake, Growth, and Stem Damage for the Hemiepiphytic Cactus Hylocereus undatus1

Hylocereus undatus, which is native to tropical forests experiencing moderate temperatures, would not be expected to tolerate the extremely high temperatures that can be tolerated by cacti native to deserts. Nevertheless, total daily net CO₂ uptake by this hemiepiphytic cactus, which is widely cultivated for its fruits, was optimal at day/night air temperatures of 30/20°C, temperatures that are higher than those optimal for daily net CO₂ uptake by cacti native to arid and semiarid areas. Exposure to 35/25°C for 30 weeks led to lower net CO₂ uptake than at 10 weeks; exposure to 40/30°C led to considerable necrosis visible on the stems at 6 weeks and nearly complete browning of the stems by 19 weeks. Dry mass gain over 31 weeks was greatest for plants at 30/20°C, with root growth being especially noteworthy and root dry mass gain representing an increasing percentage of plant dry mass gain as day/night air temperatures were increased. Viability of chlorenchyma cells, assayed by the uptake of the vital stain neutral red into the central vacuoles, was decreased 50 percent by a one‐hour treatment at 55°C compared with an average of 64°C for 18 species of cacti native to deserts. The lower high‐temperature tolerance for H. undatus reflected its low high‐temperature acclimation of only 1.4°C as growth temperatures were raised by 10°C compared with an average acclimation of 5.3°C for the other 18 species of cacti. Thus, this tropical hemiepiphytic cactus is not adapted to day/night air temperatures above ca 40/30°C, although its net CO₂ uptake is optimal at the relatively high day/night air temperatures of 30/20°C.