Abstract
We studied size-related trends in photosynthesis and leaf characteristics in Sabina vulgaris growing in the Mu-us Desert, Inner Mongolia, China. 24 individuals of S. vulgaris were selected for the study. The crown diameter on studied individuals ranged from 20 to 360 cm. We measured leaf maximum photosynthetic rate (Pmax), maximum carboxylation efficiency (Vcmax), stomatal conductance, leaf nitrogen content and leaf mass per area (LMA) on August. Leaf Pmax, Vcmax, stomatal conductance and nitrogen content did not change with crown diameter. LMA also did not differ with crown diameter. These results suggested that constant leaf nitrogen content and stomatal conductance, which strongly relate with photosynthetic rate, might lead to constant photosynthetic traits with tree size. S. vulgaris did not seem to suffer from strong water stress with tree size by having their decumbent life form.
