Abstract
Species with higher relative growth rates exhibited higher relative surface exposures at both plant and cellular levels. In meristematic cells enriched with cytoplasm, a decrease in cell-size brings about an increase in the ratio of cell surface area to cytoplasmic volume. In vacuolated cells, e.g., cortex and palisade parenchyma, an increase in cell-size with vacuolation brings about an increase in the ratio of cell surface area to cytoplasmic content. Rapid growth was associatd with higher leaf area ratio, smaller cell-size in meristematic cells, and larger cell-size in vacuolated cells.
