Evaluating stem conducting tissue as an estimator of leaf area in four woody angiosperms

Abstract

Four woody angiosperm spp. including an evergreen tree (Castanopsis chrysophylla (Dougl.) A.DC.), a deciduous tree (Acer macrophyllum Pursh), an evergreen shrub (Rhododendron macrophyllum G. Don) and a deciduous shrub (Acer circinnatum Pursh) were sampled to assess the relation of cross-sectional area of conducting tissue in the stem to leaf area. In the 1st 3 spp. a linear relation between conducting area and leaf area was obtained with r2 (correlation coefficient) values of 0.89-0.96. For A. circinatum the relation only approached linearity with a log transformation of both axes with r2 = 0.80.