Water Relations and Leaf Structure of the Evergreen Shrubs Eurya emarginata (Theaceae) and E. japonica in Coastal and Inland Habitats

Abstract

Stomatal conductance and leaf water potential at around noon, pre-dawn leaf water potential, pressure–volume parameters, and leaf structural characteristics including leaf thickness, leaf dry mass per unit area and turgid leaf water content per unit area were compared between a coastal shrub species, Eurya emarginata (Thunb.) Makino and an inland shrub species, E. japonica Thunb. The pre-dawn leaf water potential was only slightly lower in E. emarginata than in E. japonica, and the environmental conditions such as the photosynthetic photon flux density and the vapour pressure deficit did not differ obviously between the two habitats. No apparent differences were observed in the pressure–volume parameters between the two species. On the other hand, E. emarginata had much higher stomatal conductance and significantly thicker leaves with higher turgid leaf water content per unit area than E. japonica. The thicker leaf with higher water content on an area basis in E. emarginata maintains adequate leaf turgor pressure against a higher rate of transpiration.