Volume 129, Issue 1 p. 125-134
Free Access

Comparison of hydraulic architecture of woody plants of differing phylogeny and growth form with special reference to freestanding and hemi-epiphytic Ficus species from Panama

SANDRA PATIÑO

SANDRA PATIÑO

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 2072, Balboa, Republic of Panama

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MELVIN T. TYREE

Corresponding Author

MELVIN T. TYREE

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 2072, Balboa, Republic of Panama

Aiken Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 705 Spear Street, Burlington, Vermont, USA 05402

*To whomw correspondence should be addressed at Proctor Maple Research Centre, University of Vermont, PO Box 233, Underhill Centre, VT 05490, USA.Search for more papers by this author
E. ALLEN HERRE

E. ALLEN HERRE

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 2072, Balboa, Republic of Panama

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First published: January 1995
Citations: 54

summary

Hydraulic parameters were measured in seven species of Fiats (three free-standing and four hemi-epiphytic) on stem segments of 3–35 mm in wood diameter. Parameters measured included Kh (water flux per unit pressure gradient), Kh (leaf specific conductivity =Kh per unit leaf area), Ks (specific conductivity =Hh per unit wood cross section), and Hv (Huber value = wood cross section per unit leaf area).

The hemi-epiphytes tended to have less conductive stems per unit leaf area (lower Ki and invested less wood cross section per unit leaf area (lower Hv) than free-standing species. Hydraulic parameters of Ficus are compared to 21 other temperate and tropical species to see if there is any discernible pattern in hydraulic architecture that correlates with phylogeny, growth form or habitat occupied by diverse species. Figs, as a group, had relatively high hV. and relatively low hv compared to other tropical trees.

A possible correlation between KL and transpiration and growth form is discussed.