Influence of Irradiation, Soil Water Potential, and Leaf Temperature on Leaf Morphology of a Desert Broadleaf, Encelia Farinosa Gray (Compositae)

Laboratory experiments were performed to evaluate observed seasonal changes in leaf morphology of the desert perennial shrub, Encelia farinosa Gray. Plants were grown under low or high conditions of photosynthetically active irradiation, soil water potential (Ψ soil ), and leaf temperature (8 different experimental regimes). The relative growth rate, leaf water vapor conductance, leaf water potential, and leaf length were all greater for the high Ψ soil regimes, the largest leaves occurring at low irradiation. High irradiation during growth led to thicker leaves with a higher internal to external leaf area ratio (A mes /A); low Ψ soil tended to increase A mes /A somewhat. High irradiation also led to decreased absorptance to solar irradiation caused by increased pubescence. High leaf temperature during development resulted in slightly smaller, thicker leaves with higher A mes /A. Thus, irradiation appeared to have its major influence on leaf thickness, A mes /A, and absorptance, with a secondary effect on leaf length; Ψ soil affected primarily leaf length, growth rate, and water status, and secondarily A mes /A. Results are discussed with regard to recent ecophysiological studies on the observed seasonal changes in leaf morphology of E. farinosa .