Aims The variations in leaf size result from the integrated effects of many factors. Study of the mechanism to reach the optimum leaf size could help us better understand plant adaption and evolution, and plant life history strategies. Here we aim to test the hypothesis that leaf size is affected by the biomass allocation strategy within a leaf. Methods The relationships between leaf size and different biomass partitioning patterns within a leaf were studied for 19 evergreen and 30 deciduous broadleaved woody species from Qingliang Mountain, Zhejiang, China. The standardized major axis estimation method was used to examine the scaling relationship between lamina size and petiole size within a leaf. The relationship between leaf size and support investment ratio within a leaf was estimated by the Model Type I regression analysis. Important findings Biomass allocation in petiole increased with leaf size similarly in both evergreen and deciduous leaves, which resulted from the significant allometric scaling relationship between petiole mass and lamina mass (and area) with slopes significantly larger than 1.0, independent of leaf habit. However, evergreen species were found to have a greater petiole mass at a given lamina mass or area than deciduous species, which may be due to their higher demand for mechanic support and resistance to freezing-induced embolism in petioles. Results suggest that leaf size could be affected by the fraction of support investment within a leaf.
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