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- Title
Arquitetura foliar de Impatiens walleriana Hook. f. (Balsaminaceae).
- Authors
Boeger, Maria Regina; Garcia, Sikandra-Lis Fonseca Paulinelli; Soffiatti, Patricia
- Abstract
Leaf architecture, defined as the tri-dimensional organization of the leaves on the stem axis, influences the plant's capacity to intercept sun light. This study investigated the leaf architecture of Impatiens walleriana, a species from the understory of forests, in order to evaluate the existence of variation among distinctive positions of the leaves and identify the morphological characteristics that influence leaf overlap and, consequently, the process of light capture. Thirty plants, under the same light condition, were collected in a remnant of Floresta Ombrófila Mista, in Curitiba, Parana State. Leaf width, leaf length, lamina thickness, leaf area, petiole length, leaf angles, and divergence angles were measured. The mean values of leaf angles, divergence angles, and petiole length varied significantly in relation to leaf position. Apparently, leaf overlapping is minimized by the synergic effect of leaf angles, divergence angles, elliptic form of the lamina, and long petioles, which, together, allow for a spatial organization around the stem axis, where most leaves can receive the diffuse light at the understory forest. These morphological characteristics, associated with reproductive strategies, appear to be responsible for this species' success in the colonization of disturbed understory, replacing native vegetation.
- Subjects
LEAVES; IMPATIENS wallerana; BALSAMINACEAE; PLANT stems; SUNSHINE; FORESTS &; forestry; PLANT diversity; COLONIZATION; PLANT communities
- Publication
Acta Scientiarum: Biological Sciences, 2009, Vol 31, Issue 1, p29
- ISSN
1679-9283
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.4025/actascibiolsci.v31i1.935