不同居群唐古特白刺叶片解剖特征对生境的响应研究

以河西走廊不同生境的3个天然居群(WMX、ZGL、JGC)唐古特白刺为研究对象,对叶片进行解剖观察,测定其叶片长、宽、厚,表皮毛长、宽及密度,气孔器长、宽、面积及密度,角质层厚,表皮细胞厚,栅栏组织厚,海绵组织厚,主脉直径,支脉直径,含晶细胞直径,粘液细胞长、宽,贮水组织长、宽;并对栅海比(P/S)、叶片组织结构紧密度(CTR)、疏松度(SR)等指标进行统计分析,比较同一指标在3个居群间的差异,以探讨其叶片的形态解剖特征对不同生境的适应性响应机制。结果表明:（1）3个天然居群唐古特白刺除叶片长、宽、长宽比及下表皮毛宽外,其余各指标均存在不同程度差异,其中叶厚、叶面积、上下表皮毛长度及密度、上下气孔器长度及密度、上表皮细胞厚度、上下栅栏组织厚度、海绵组织厚度、P/S、CTR、维管束直径以及粘液细胞长宽在3个居群间均显著差异。（2）3个居群的综合指标变异系数和可塑性指数的均值排序一致,指标均值的排序均为JGC＞WMX＞ZGL,表明3个居群唐古特白刺的生态适应性强弱为JGC＞WMX＞ZGL。（3）3个居群唐古特白刺的栅栏组织、海绵组织、表皮毛、角质层的可塑性指数均相对较高,说明在应对不同环境时这些组织起着主导作用,这可能是唐古特白刺叶片解剖特征对不同生境条件的适应性响应机制。     

藏东南色季拉山薄毛海绵杜鹃叶解剖结构特征与环境适应性

以藏东南色季拉山9个不同海拔梯度的薄毛海绵杜鹃(Rhododendron aganniphum var.schizopeplum)叶片为试验材料,采用石蜡切片技术,测定10项叶片解剖结构指标,应用叶片解剖结构指标的可塑性指数和相关性分析方法探索薄毛海绵杜鹃对藏东南色季拉山强紫外辐射和高寒环境的适应性。结果表明:(1)薄毛海绵杜鹃叶片为异面叶,上表皮有明显的角质层,下表皮有表皮毛,栅栏组织细胞2～3层。(2)随着海拔的升高,叶片角质层厚度、上下表皮厚度、栅栏组织厚度、海绵组织厚度、叶片厚度呈现明显增大趋势,而组织结构紧密度和疏松度变化不显著,主脉突起度呈现下降趋势。(3)各项叶片解剖结构指标的可塑性指数显示,薄毛海绵杜鹃在解剖结构上表现出较小的可塑性,对外界环境的适应能力较弱。(4)依据薄毛海绵杜鹃各项叶片解剖结构指标的相关性分析结果,除海绵组织厚度与栅栏组织厚度、下表皮厚度与上角质层厚度之间相关性不显著外,其余各指标之间均呈显著相关关系,且叶片的解剖结构指标方面也存在明显的协同进化现象。研究发现,藏东南色季拉山薄毛海绵杜鹃通过增加叶片角质层厚度、表皮厚度和叶肉厚度等解剖结构指标的方式增强对外界极端环境的适应能力,从而有利于其在恶劣的高山生境下生存繁衍,使该物种成为生态位理论中的广幅种。     

不同居群驼蹄瓣叶片解剖结构比较研究

以南疆不同居群的驼蹄瓣叶片为研究对象,采用石蜡切片法,对其解剖结构特征进行比较研究,探究各指数之间的变化与生境的相关性。结果表明:三个不同居群中驼蹄瓣叶片厚度、上角质层厚度、上表皮厚度、栅栏组织厚度、海绵组织厚度、下表皮厚度及下角质层厚度存在着显著差异;T-1叶片厚度、上角质层厚度、上表皮厚度、海绵组织厚度、下表皮厚度及下角质层厚度最大,其栅海比最高为2.233,说明T-1叶片光合作用效率最高,生态适应性最强。不同居群驼蹄瓣叶片解剖结构的显著差异性表明了不同的环境因子影响驼蹄瓣的生长发育,体现了植物适应环境变化所形成的生存对策。     

新疆野苹果不同地理分布与树龄的叶片解剖结构特征

以新疆野苹果为材料,对不同居群及不同树龄叶片解剖结构特征进行了分析研究。结果表明：新疆野苹果叶片属于异面叶,由上表皮、栅栏组织、叶脉、海绵组织和下表皮组成;不同居群新疆野苹果叶片厚度及细胞排列方式有差异,巩留、额敏及托里的野苹果栅栏组织增厚,且栅栏组织/海绵组织比值增大;新源的野苹果叶片及栅栏组织较薄,栅栏组织/海绵组织比值偏低;不同树龄新疆野苹果叶片厚度随着树龄的增大而呈变薄的趋势,多年生野苹果及野苹果“树王”栅栏组织及海绵组织层数最少,厚度较薄。这些结果暗示新疆野苹果通过各部分结构的协调生长来保证光合作用效率,以适应不同的生长环境以及处于不同发育时期的生长状况。本研究为新疆野苹果原位保护、保育提供了实验依据。     

越冬期遮阴条件下3个不同秋眠型紫花苜蓿品种叶片解剖结构与其光生态适应性

在我国南北气候过渡地区, 采用遮阴试验和石蜡切片法, 研究越冬期不同光强对3个不同秋眠型紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)品种(‘维多利亚’、 ‘巨人201’和‘游客’)叶片解剖结构的影响。结果表明: 随着光强减弱, 各紫花苜蓿品种表皮结构中上、下表皮角质层厚度, 气孔密度和气孔开度明显下降; 上、下表皮厚度呈上升趋势。随着遮阴强度增加, 叶肉组织中海绵组织细胞宽度显著上升, 栅栏组织厚度、栅栏组织细胞层数、栅栏组织厚度/海绵组织厚度显著下降; 品种间海绵组织厚度和栅栏组织细胞宽度变化趋势不一致。叶片结构整体特征中叶片厚度、叶肉厚度、中脉厚度、组织结构紧密度随光强减弱而显著下降, 组织结构疏松度明显上升, 叶脉突起度变化不明显。品种间各叶片解剖性状变幅及可塑性指数具有明显的差异, 表明其对弱光适应方式不同。Pearson相关分析表明, 各紫花苜蓿品种叶片气孔密度、栅栏组织厚度、叶肉厚度、叶片厚度及栅栏组织厚度/海绵组织厚度与光强呈显著正相关, 可能是紫花苜蓿叶片解剖结构光强敏感特征参数, 其中, ‘维多利亚’叶片敏感特征参数与光强相关程度较低, 与光强相关的性状较少。综合各项分析结果, 初步确定越冬期紫花苜蓿耐阴性与其秋眠性相关, 半秋眠型品种‘维多利亚’ >秋眠型品种‘巨人201’≥非秋眠型品种‘游客’。     

马蔺叶片解剖结构特征与其抗旱性关系研究

通过温室模拟干旱胁迫试验,从中国北方不同生境生长的15份野生马蔺种质材料鉴定出3个不同抗旱性群体(强抗旱、中度抗旱和弱抗旱),从中选择具代表性的不同抗旱级别的4份马蔺种质,进行其叶片组织解剖结构特征的观察和比较,以进一步证实马蔺叶片解剖结构特征及其与抗旱性的关系。结果表明,各种质材料间叶片厚度、上下表皮细胞厚度、角质层厚度、气孔密度、栅栏组织厚度、海绵组织厚度、栅栏组织/海绵组织厚度、CTR值和SR值等结构参数指标均与马蔺种质材料抗旱性存在密切的关系。其中,强抗旱种质材料的叶片厚度、上下表皮细胞厚度和角质层厚度大,气孔密度大,栅栏组织和海绵组织较发达,叶片组织紧密度大、疏松度小,栅栏组织/海绵组织厚度比较高;弱抗旱种质材料的叶片厚度、上下表皮细胞厚度和角质层厚度小,气孔密度小,栅栏组织和海绵组织较薄,叶片组织紧密度小、疏松度大,栅栏组织/海绵组织厚度比较低。     

6种豆科牧草叶片解剖性状与抗旱性关系研究

以百脉根、二色胡枝子、黄花苜蓿、紫花苜蓿、野火球和扁蓿豆6种豆科牧草的成熟叶片为材料,采用石蜡制片法和光学显微技术测定了叶片上表皮厚度、叶片下表皮厚度、叶片厚度、维管束直径、栅栏组织厚度、海绵组织厚度、栅海比、叶片栅栏组织结构紧密度和叶片海绵组织结构疏松度等抗旱相关的解剖结构特征参数,并进行统计分析和抗旱性综合评价.结果表明:除栅海比外,6种豆科牧草的其他指标均表现出显著或极显著的种间差异,并以叶片厚度、栅栏组织厚度、海绵组织厚度变化幅度较大;叶片上表皮厚度、叶片下表皮厚度、叶片厚度、栅栏组织厚度和海绵组织厚度之间呈极显著正相关和显著正相关,相关系数在0.84～0.99之间;各解剖结构特征参数的第3个主成分(贮水能力)的特征值为14.52,累计贡献率达95.71%,前3个主因子基本上能概括9个指标的主要信息;6种豆科牧草的综合抗旱能力表现为扁蓿豆>百脉根>黄花苜蓿>二色胡枝子>紫花苜蓿>野火球.可见,所选9个叶片解剖结构性状可以用来有效综合评价豆科牧草的抗旱性.     

太湖不同污染区域荇菜叶的比较解剖研究

观察了太湖3个不同污染区域内荇菜[Nymphoides peltatum (Gmel.) O.Kuntze]叶的形态和结构.结果表明:污染重的贡湖地区荇菜叶片的栅栏组织和海绵组织基本不分化,薄壁细胞发达,细胞间隙小;苏州东太湖和西太湖2个污染较轻的采集点,荇菜叶片的叶肉栅栏组织和海绵组织明显分化,细胞间隙组织发达;3个地点叶片的维管组织逐渐退化.测量数据的统计分析表明:贡湖地区荇菜叶的叶片厚度、栅栏组织厚度和海绵组织厚度等解剖参数与其他2个样点差异显著.而苏州东太湖与西太湖两个区域叶片解剖参数之间,除海绵组织厚度和下表皮厚度有差异外,其他参数无明显差异.     

酸枣叶片结构可塑性对自然梯度干旱生境的适应特征

叶片是植物体暴露于环境中面积最大的器官,其最易感知环境变化而发生形态和结构上的改变。为探究植株叶片结构对不同生境的适应机理,研究以生长在烟台-石家庄-宁夏-新疆不同地域气候条件形成的自然梯度干旱环境中的酸枣为试验材料,应用植物显微技术研究酸枣叶片的结构的可塑性对不同自然梯度干旱环境的适应特征。结果表明:酸枣叶表皮着生有表皮毛,表皮细胞外覆有角质层与蜡质。叶肉为全栅型,栅栏组织发达,海绵组织退化,叶肉中有晶体及大量的分泌细胞。从烟台至新疆随生境梯度干旱加剧,酸枣叶片叶面积逐渐变小,叶片厚度依次增加,叶表皮角质层加厚,且上角质层厚度大于下角质层厚度;叶片上下表皮细胞长径及短径先增后降,栅栏组织总厚度和密度依次增大、层数减少,各层栅栏组织细胞的长径逐渐增加。叶脉薄壁细胞相对厚度逐渐减小,导管管径增大,晶体(草酸钙晶体)数增多。在梯度干旱环境中酸枣植株通过减小叶面积、提高栅栏组织密度、增加叶片及角质层厚度降低蒸腾作用,减少水分散失;通过增大导管管径提高水分利用率;通过增加晶体数量提高叶片机械性能,改变细胞的渗透势、提高吸水和保水能力。上述叶片结构的变化是酸枣植株长期对不同自然梯度干旱生境的适应特征。由此可知,叶片形态结构中叶面积、叶片厚度、角质层及叶肉组织(栅栏组织)随环境变化的可塑性较大。     

延安城区10种阔叶园林植物叶片结构及其抗旱性评价

利用石蜡切片法和指甲油印迹法,对延安城区10种阔叶园林植物叶片解剖结构——叶片厚度、上下表皮角质层厚度、上下表皮厚度、栅栏组织厚度、海绵组织厚度、中脉厚度、维管束厚度、下表皮气孔密度、气孔长度、气孔宽度等进行测定,对栅栏组织与海绵组织厚度比、叶片结构紧实度、维管束厚度与叶脉厚度比等15个植物抗旱性指标进行分析,并运用方差分析和主成分分析,结合抗旱隶属函数法对物种间的抗旱性进行综合评价。结果表明:(1)15个旱性指标在10种阔叶园林植物间差异显著,变异系数为19.34%～73.73%,均具有较高灵敏度。(2)10种植物叶片均具备抵抗干旱环境的解剖结构,表皮、角质层、栅栏组织、叶脉、维管束等较为发达,气孔主要分布在下表皮,国槐为等面叶,其余为异面叶。(3)叶片上下表皮厚度、栅栏组织厚度、维管束厚度、气孔密度可作为园林植物抗旱性综合评价的主要指标,10种阔叶园林植物的抗旱性大小顺序为:樱花>月季>红叶李>国槐>紫丁香>紫藤>爬山虎>丝绵木>连翘>紫叶小檗。     

蛇足石杉生态适应性研究Ⅰ茎叶解剖特征的比较

利用解剖学方法对湘西地区蛇足石杉5个野生居群个体(S1,S2,S3,S4,S5)的茎叶进行了解剖学比较和分析,结果表明:不同居群蛇足石杉解剖结构的性状存在明显的差异性,其中维管柱厚度、皮层厚度、海绵组织厚度、叶片厚度这4个性状是造成居群间蛇足石杉解剖学性状差异的主要因子;茎叶解剖结构也表现出对阴湿环境适应的的形态特征,但是,S1居群的蛇足石杉具有适应旱生生境的趋势。这些解剖学性状除受遗传因子控制外,环境因子(主要为光照和水分)起着重要的作用,因此,蛇足石杉形态解剖学上的差异性或可塑性是其赖以适应环境和生存的基础。     

兴安落叶松针叶解剖结构变化及其光合能力对气候变化的适应性

叶片易受环境因子影响,其形态解剖结构特征不但与叶片的生理功能密切相关,而且反映树木对环境变化的响应和适应。叶片结构的改变势必会改变树木的生理功能。同一树种长期生长在异质环境条件下,经过自然选择和适应,会在形态和生理特性等方面产生变异,形成特定的地理种群。另外,母体所经受的环境胁迫也会影响到其子代的生长、发育和生理等特征。因此,了解植物叶片形态结构对环境变化的响应与适应是探索植物对环境变化的响应适应机制的基础。兴安落叶松(Larix gmelinii Rupr.)是我国北方森林的优势树种,主要分布在我国东北地区,但日益加剧的气候变化可能会改变其现有的分布区。为了区分叶片对气候变化的可塑性和适应性,本研究采用同质园法比较测定了6个不同气候条件下的兴安落叶松种源的32年生树木的针叶解剖结构和光合生理相关因子,利用石蜡切片方法分析了针叶的解剖结构特征、光合能力（Pmax-a）、水分利用效率（WUE）之间的关系及其对气候变化的适应性。结果表明：表皮细胞厚度、叶肉细胞厚度、传输组织厚度、维管束厚度、内皮层厚度以及叶片总厚度均存在显著的种源间差异（P < 0.05）。叶肉细胞厚度与Pmax-a、气孔导度和WUE之间均存在显著的正相关关系（P < 0.05）。叶肉细胞厚度、表皮细胞厚度、叶片总厚度以及叶肉细胞厚度和表皮细胞厚度在叶片总厚度中所占比例均与种源地的干燥度指数（即年蒸发量与年降水量之比）呈正线性关系。这些结果说明：不同种源兴安落叶松针叶解剖结构因对种源原地气候条件的长期适应而产生显著的差异,从而引起其针叶光合作用、水分利用等生理功能发生相应的变化,从而有利于该树种在气候变化的情景下得以生存和繁衍。     

中国东部亚热带青冈种群叶片的生态解剖

运用生态解剖学的方法对我国亚热带东部分布的１０个青冈种群叶片的解剖特征进行了比较分析,结果如下：①青冈叶片结构在种群间存在着广泛的差异,这种差异是青冈适应不同环境条件的结构基础。青冈叶片各部分结构特征在种群间的变化不晃同步的,变异系数（ＣＶ）在６．０％～２０．５％之间;变异幅度最大的是栅栏组织和上角质膜厚度,最小的是下表皮厚度。②相关分析表明,温度和降雨是影响青冈叶片地理变异的主导因子,其中温度、     

Comparative analyses of leaf anatomy of dicotyledonous species in Tibetan and Inner Mongolian grasslands

Knowledge of the leaf anatomy of grassland plants is crucial for understanding how these plants adapt to the environment. Tibetan alpine grasslands and Inner Mongolian temperate grasslands are two major grassland types in northern China. Tibetan alpine grasslands occur in high-altitude regions where the low temperatures limit plant growth. Inner Mongolian temperate grasslands are found in arid regions where moisture is the limiting factor. Few comparative studies concerning the leaf anatomy of grassland plants of the Tibetan Plateau and Inner Mongolian Plateau have been conducted. We examined leaf characteristics at 71 sites and among 65 species, across the alpine grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau and the temperate grasslands of the Inner Mongolian Plateau. We compared the leaf structures of plants with different life forms and taxonomies, and their adaptation to arid or cold environments. We explored relationships among leaf features and the effects of climatic factors (i.e., growing season temperature and precipitation) on leaf characteristics. Our results showed that (i) there were significant differences in leaf anatomy between Tibetan alpine and Inner Mongolian temperate grasslands. Except for mesophyll cell density, the values obtained for thickness of leaf tissue, surface area and volume of mesophyll cells were larger on the Tibetan Plateau than on the Inner Mongolian Plateau. (ii) Within the same family or genus, leaf anatomy showed significant differences between two regions, and trends were consistent with those of whole species. (iii) Leaf anatomy of woody and herbaceous plants also showed significant differences between the regions. Except for mesophyll cell density, the values obtained for the thickness of leaf tissue, and the surface area and volume of mesophyll cells were larger in herbaceous than in woody plants. (iv) Leaf anatomical traits changed accordingly. Total leaf thickness, thicknesses of lower and upper epidermal cells, and surface area and volume of mesophyll cells were positively correlated, while mesophyll cell density was negatively associated with those traits. (v) Growing season temperature had stronger effects on leaf anatomy than growing season precipitation. Although the communities in Tibetan and Inner Mongolian grasslands were similar in appearance, leaf anatomy differed; this was probably due to the combined effects of evolutionary adaptation of plants to environment and environmental stress induced by climatic factors.     

岷江上游干旱河谷矮探春叶片特征与环境因子的关系

对岷江上游干旱河谷矮探春(Jasminumhumile L.)的叶片形态解剖特征进行了显微观察,分析了海拔梯度上叶片形态与环境因子的关系。结果表明,矮探春叶片呈长椭圆形,叶肉组织分化明显;随着海拔升高,叶面积、厚度、干重、饱和含水量、海绵组织厚度,中脉厚度以及厚角组织厚度/中脉厚度之比(M/C)等呈增大趋势,而栅栏组织厚度/海绵组织厚度之比(P/S)则减小;叶片长/宽比、表皮厚度、栅栏组织厚度和比叶重在海拔梯度上无明显差异。叶面积、干重、饱和含水量、叶厚度和海绵组织厚度等参数两两之间呈显著正相关,而它们与P/S均呈显著负相关。叶面积、干重、海绵组织厚度和M/C等主要受土壤含水量的影响,并随着土壤含水量增加而增大;P/S随着土壤含水量和年降水量增加而减小;叶片厚度、饱和含水量和中脉厚度均随着温和度的降低而增大。岷江上游干旱河谷区土壤水份和生长季温度可能是影响矮探春叶片形态解剖特征的主要因子。     

Within- and among-tree variation in leaf morphology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus petraea</Emphasis> (Matt.) Liebl. natural populations

Variation in leaf morphology of Quercus petraea in response to several ecological conditions has been studied extensively, although not explicitly in the context of within- and among-tree variation. This study examined leaf morphology and anatomy of Q. petraea, growing in five natural Italian populations adapted to different ecological environments, to understand the pattern of within- and among-tree variation in this species. We used an ANOVA model with both crossed and nested effects. All levels contributed significant components of variation. Within-tree variation due to branch position was large, particularly in thickness and productivity (40%). For 19 of 32 variables, the variation among trees was surprisingly lower than the within-tree variation explained by branch position. Trends in leaf morphology and anatomy with branch position exhibited the sun-shade dichotomy. Patterns of crown plasticity showed lower values in the two xeric populations. Results suggest the need for taxonomic studies to consider variation as a quantitative attribute of individual trees.     

The F<Subscript>O</Subscript>F<Subscript>1</Subscript> ATP synthase: from atomistic three-dimensional structure to the rotary-chemical function

There are numerous studies describing how growth conditions influence the efficiency of C₄ photosynthesis. However, it remains unclear how changes in the biochemical capacity versus leaf anatomy drives this acclimation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine how growth light and nitrogen availability influence leaf anatomy, biochemistry and the efficiency of the CO₂ concentrating mechanism in Miscanthus × giganteus. There was an increase in the mesophyll cell wall surface area but not cell well thickness in the high-light (HL) compared to the low-light (LL) grown plants suggesting a higher mesophyll conductance in the HL plants, which also had greater photosynthetic capacity. Additionally, the HL plants had greater surface area and thickness of bundle-sheath cell walls compared to LL plants, suggesting limited differences in bundle-sheath CO₂ conductance because the increased area was offset by thicker cell walls. The gas exchange estimates of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPc) activity were significantly less than the in vitro PEPc activity, suggesting limited substrate availability in the leaf due to low mesophyll CO₂ conductance. Finally, leakiness was similar across all growth conditions and generally did not change under the different measurement light conditions. However, differences in the stable isotope composition of leaf material did not correlate with leakiness indicating that dry matter isotope measurements are not a good proxy for leakiness. Taken together, these data suggest that the CO₂ concentrating mechanism in Miscanthus is robust under low-light and limited nitrogen growth conditions, and that the observed changes in leaf anatomy and biochemistry likely help to maintain this efficiency.     

Sun-shade adaptability of the red mangrove,Rhizophora mangle (Rhizophoraceae): Changes through ontogeny at several levels of biological organization

Rhizophora mangle L., the predominant neotropical mangrove species, occupies a gradient from low intertidal swamp margins with high insolation, to shaded sites at highest high water. Across a light gradient, R. mangle shows properties of both “light-demanding” and “shade-tolerant” species, and defies designation according to existing successional paradigms for rain forest trees. The mode and magnitude of its adaptability to light also change through ontogeny as it grows into the canopy. We characterized and compared phenotypic flexibility of R. mangle seedlings, saplings, and tree modules across changing light environments, from the level of leaf anatomy and photosynthesis, through stem and whole-plant architecture. We also examined growth and mortality differences among sun and shade populations of seedlings over 3 yr. Sun and shade seedling populations diverged in terms of four of six leaf anatomy traits (relative thickness of tissue layers and stomatal density), as well as leaf size and shape, specific leaf area (SLA), leaf internode distances, disparity in blade–petiole angles, canopy spread: height ratios, standing leaf numbers, summer (July) photosynthetic light curve shapes, and growth rates. Saplings showed significant sun/shade differences in fewer characters: leaf thickness, SLA, leaf overlap, disparity in bladepetiole angles, standing leaf numbers, stem volume and branching angle (first-order branches only), and summer photosynthesis. In trees, leaf anatomy was insensitive to light environment, but leaf length, width, and SLA, disparities in bladepetiole angles, and summer maximal photosynthetic rates varied among sun and shade leaf populations. Seedling and sapling photosynthetic rates were significantly depressed in winter (December), while photosynthetic rates in tree leaves did not differ in winter and summer. Seasonal and ontogenetic changes in response to light environment are apparent at several levels of biological organization in R. mangle, within constraints of its architectural baiiplan. Such variation has implications for models of stand carbon gain, and suggest that response flexibility may change with plant age.     

Relationships between sclerophylly,leaf biomechanical properties and leaf anatomy in some Australian heath and forest species

ABSTRACT

A previous study of 19 south-east Australian heath and forest species with a range of leaf textures showed that they varied considerably in leaf biomechanical properties. By using an index of sclerophylly derived from botanists' rankings (botanists' sclerophylly index, BSI) we determined that leaves considered by botanists to be sclerophyllous generally had both high strength and work to fracture (particularly in punching and tearing tests), both at the level of leaf and per unit leaf thickness. In the current study we have shown that leaves from the same species also varied considerably in leaf specific mass (46–251 g m^-2), neutral detergent fibre concentration (20–59% on a dry weight basis) and in leaf anatomy. Multiple regression indicated a very strong correlation between BSI and the first two components of a principal components analysis (PCA) of leaf anatomy (R ² = 0.91). In addition, there was strong correlation between the first component of a PCA of the mechanical properties (correlated with BSI) and the two axes derived from anatomical characteristics (R ² = 0.66). The anatomical properties contributing most to the significant component axes were thickness of palisade mesophyll and upper cuticle (axis 1) and percentage fibre (neutral detergent fibre) and lower epidermis thickness (axis 2). However, whether these relationships are causal, or reflect correlations with characteristics not measured in this study, such as vascularization and sclerification, is not clear. At a finer scale, however, there is evidence that there are various ways to be sclerophyllous, both in terms of anatomical and mechanical properties. This is illustrated by comparison of two of the sclerophyllous species, Eucalyptus baxteri and Banksia marginata.     

Proportional dry-mass content as an underlying trait for the variation in relative growth rate among 22 Eurasian populations of Dactylis glomerata s.l.

1. Relative growth rate (RGR), proportional dry-mass content of leaf and stem tissues, and biomass-allocation pattern were assessed under controlled conditions for 22 populations of Dactylis glomerata s.l. from contrasting latitudes and altitudes in Europe, Israel and Kazakstan. Furthermore, width and thickness of leaves were measured in garden-grown mature plants.
2. All these parameters varied significantly among the populations. RGR correlated negatively with dry-mass content of leaves and stems, but not with biomass-allocation parameters, leaf thickness or leaf width. We argue that the close association of RGR with variation in dry-mass content among species and genetically distinct populations is a result of the larger volume of tissue, and correspondingly larger leaf area and longer root system, that a plant with a low tissue density can build per unit dry mass.
3. Leaf tissue dry-mass content decreased and RGR increased with increasing latitude and elevation of the originating site, indicating that a high growth rate may be an advantage in habitats with a short growing season. This contrasts with earlier findings of a negative correlation between inherent RGR and altitude.