Leaf morphological and physiological traits
LaminaLMA, trichomeLMA, lamina thickness, trichome thickness, leaf area,
and characteristic leaf dimension were significantly different among the
elevational sites (Table 3). TrichomeLMA was highest at the 2400 m site
which was most cold-and-dry among the study sites, and lowest at the 700
m site which was wettest, while laminaLMA increased linearly with the
elevation (Table 3). Trichome and lamina thickness showed similar
patterns to trichomeLMA and laminaLMA across the elevation, respectively
(Table 3). The largest values of trichomeLMA (203.7 g
m–2, 45% of dry leaf mass) and trichome thickness
(0.776 mm) were observed at the 2400 m site. Contrary to the pattern of
trichomeLMA across the elevation, the leaf area was lowest at the 2400 m
site and highest at the 700 m site (Table 3). These patterns were
consistent with the previous study (Tsujii et al., 2016).