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Leaf size
Leaf size of plants can be described using the terms megaphyll, macrophyll, mesophyll, microphyll, nanophyll and leptophyll (in descending order) in a classification devised in 1934 by Christen C. Raunkiær and since modified by others.[1] Definitions vary, some referring to length and others to area. Raunkiaer's original definitions were by leaf area, and differed by a factor of nine at each stage.[2] Some authors simplified the system to make it specific to particular climates,[3] and have introduced extra terms including notophyll,[3] picophyll,[4] platyphyll[4] and subleptophyll.[5]
In ecology, microphyll and similar terms based on blade size of the leaf are used to describe a flora, for example, a "microphyll rainforest" is often defined as a forest where the dominant trees have leaves less than 7.5 cm in length.[6][7]
- ^ Whitten, Tony (1996). Ecology of Java and Bali. Periplus Editions (HK) Limited. p. 505. ISBN 9789625930725. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ^ "Climate adaptation: Leaf size and shape". Agronomy 541: Applied agricultural meteorology. Iowa State University Department of Agronomy. Archived from the original on 28 December 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
webbwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
van-der-maarelwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
ingrouillewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Microphyll rainforests and thickets of the wet tropics bioregion (PDF), Wet Tropics Management Authority (Australia), retrieved 18 January 2016
- ^ Tracey, J. G. (John Geoffrey) (1982), The Vegetation of the Humid Tropical Region of North Queensland, pp. 32, 34, 26
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