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Seedling Growth and Morphology of the Deciduous Tree Cornus controversa in Simulated Forest Gap Light Environments in Subtropical China
Author(s) -
CORNELISSEN J.H.C.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
plant species biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.419
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1442-1984
pISSN - 0913-557X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-1984.1993.tb00230.x
Subject(s) - evergreen , deciduous , seedling , biology , cinnamomum camphora , subtropics , tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests , evergreen forest , botany , horticulture , biomass (ecology) , agronomy , ecology
Seedling growth and morphology of the deciduous tree Cornus controversa from subtropical China were studied in four simulated forest gap light environments: 100%, 55%, 33% and 18% full sunlight. The best performance was in 33% full sunlight. Overall, Cornus seedlings grew taller than those of five broad‐leaved evergreen species from the same area. In terms of total plant mass only Cinnamomum camphora seedlings grew bigger than Cornus seedlings. Cornus seedlings needed relatively small biomass investments to become tall and to produce a great total length of axes. Growth of Cornus seedlings was probably enhanced by their comparatively ‘cheap’ leaves in terms of weight per area, which resulted in large total leaf area per unit plant weight. The results provide ecophysiological support of Cornus ' competitive strength in forest gaps amidst mostly evergreens.