Abstract:
The specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC) are key traits reflecting the adaptability to environment for plants integratedly. To deeply understand the spatial-temporal variations of SLA and LDMC of evergreen landscape plants, the evergreen tree
Cinnamomum camphora in seven typical functional regions in Anqing City (Anhui Provence) was selected as the target plant, and leaf samples at both north and south sides of plant canopy were collected equably in summer and winter, and then the temporal (seasons) and spatial (functional regions and canopy orientations) patterns of the specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC), interrelationships and influencing factors were comparably analyzed. The results showed that season, functional region and their interaction affected the leaf traits of
C. camphora largely, while canopy orientation represented lower influence. The SLA and LDMC of
C. camphora showed significant differences among functional regions; SLA in winter was markedly lager than that in summer, while LDMC represented a reverse trend. Whether based on one functional region or combination of seven functional regions when analyzed, linear regressions represented negative correlation between LDMC and SLA, and all of the linear regression slopes in summer were lower than that in winter. However, except several functional regions in winter, the allometric analysis indicated that the allometric relationships of LDMC and SLA did not vary with seasons, i.e., they maintained uniformity always. In theory, this study demonstrated that although the leaf traits presented quantitative change at spatial-temporal scale during the growth of
C. camphora, the internal relations of leaf traits maintain constancy generally. In practice, plants with low SLA could be the preferred target for landscape greening, as to adapt to the varied urban environments.