Conclusion
Woody seedlings across ecologically and morphologically wide-ranging
species modulate the balance between the vapor (water loss) and liquid
(water delivery) phase, via a convergent allometric covariation of xylem
area and total stomatal area from entire individuals to individual
leaves. Having a sufficient number of stomata relative to the minor vein
xylem number is imperative for ensuring the force (generated by
evaporation through stomata) of water delivery (through xylem vessels).
The whole-leaf and whole-plant allometric relationships related to water
transport and export in this study deepen our understanding of the
vascular structure models and has broad implications for integrating
xylem architecture and stomatal distribution across species.