Premium
The adaptive significance of amphistomatic leaves
Author(s) -
MOTT KEITH A.,
GIBSON ARTHUR C.,
O'LEARY JAMES W.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/1365-3040.ep11611750
Subject(s) - photosynthesis , conductance , stomatal conductance , botany , positive correlation , biology , habitat , horticulture , ecology , environmental science , mathematics , medicine , combinatorics
A clear correlation between the presence of stomata on both surfaces and factors such as habitat, growth form, and physiology has yet to emerge in the literature. However, certain loose trends with these factors are evident, and these are reviewed along with evidence for hypostomaty as the primitive form. It is proposed that the effect of developing stomata on the upper surface as well as the lower is to increase maximum leaf conductance to CO 2 . Plants with a high photosynthetic capacity, living in full‐sun environments, and experiencing rapidly fluctuating or continuously available soil water (as opposed to seasonal or long‐term soil water depletion), are identified as deriving an adaptive advantage from a high maximum leaf conductance. The correlation between groups of plants fitting the above conditions and those noted to be amphistomatic is remarkable. Plants not fitting the conditions are found to be largely hypostomatic.