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

Abstract

Four woody angiosperm species representing 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 circinatum Pursh) were sampled to assess the relation of cross-sectional area of conducting tissue in the stem to leaf area. For the first three species listed, a linear relation between conducting area and leaf area was obtained with r2 values ranging from 0.89 to 0.96. For Acer circinatum the relation only approached linearity with a log transformation of both axes with r2 = 0.80.