Abstract:To reveal the effects of edge tropical and lower subtropical climatic conditions on indigenous trees in Guangdong Province, leaf structure characteristics of 8 indigenous greening species in Guangzhou and Zhanjiang were studied. The relationship between leaf mass per area (LMA) and leaf structure characters were analyzed. The results showed that leaf structure characters, i.e., fresh weight (FW), leaf length, leaf width, average leaf width and dry weight (DW), leaf area and leaf moisture content, had significant differences between two cities without consistent pattern. Specific leaf area (SLA) of Elaeocarpus apiculatus, Pterocarpus indicus, Lagetstroemia speciosa and Khaya senegalensis had significant difference between Zhanjiang and Guangzhou (P<0.001), while did not SLA of Michelia alba, Dracontomelon duperreranum, Bauhinia variegata and Ficus virens var. sublanceolata. The thickness (TH) of upper and middle leaves of Bauhinia variegata, upper leaves of Ficus virens var. sublanceolata, Lagerstroemia speciosa and Dracontomelon duperreanum in Guangzhou were larger than those in Zhanjiang (P<0.05). LMA had significantly positive correlation with FW and DW, and significantly negative correlation with leaf moisture content. There were not significant relation between LMA and leaf area, average leaf width and ratio of width to length. The climate conditions of two climate zones in Guangdong are differ litter, which not enough to make consistent adaptive variation of leaf structure characteristics in indigenous greening tree species.
