PremisePlants are sessile organisms that survive in habitats with limited resource availability and contrasting environmental conditions by responding to variation in environmental factors through morphophysiological traits related to species performance in different ecosystems. However, understanding how different plant strategies can influence the megadiversity of tropical species is still a gap.MethodsThis study analyzed variation in morphofunctional traits of leaves and secondary xylem, in species that occur simultaneously in areas of Restinga and Dense Ombrophilous Forest to infer water transport strategies of Atlantic Forest woody plants. Twenty‐seven morphophysiological traits were evaluated for the two species with the highest absolute dominance in these phytophysiognomies: Erythroxylum pulchrum and Tapirira guianensis.ResultsE. pulchrum and T. guianensis presented different sets of morphophysiological traits, strategies to avoid embolism and ensure water transport, in different phytophysiognomies. T. guianensis showed possible adaptations influenced by phytophysiognomy, while E. pulchrum showed less variation in the set of characteristics between different phytophysiognomies.ConclusionsOur results provide essential tools to understand how the environment can modulate morphofunctional traits, and how each species makes different adjustments to adapt to different phytophysiognomies. In this sense, knowledge of these species reveals new species‐specific responses in the tropical forest, which is a fundamental prerequisite for predictions about the development of the most vulnerable forests in a future of climate change.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.