Variabilidade morfológica foliar de Miconia sellowiana (DC.) Naudin (Melastomataceae) em diferentes fitofisionomias no Estado do Paraná1

Abstract

This study investigated the leaf morphology of Miconia sellowiana, in four different vegetation types: Grassland (EGL), Montane Atlantic Forest (FODM), Upper Montane Atlantic Forest (FODAM), and Araucaria Forest (FOM), at the state of Paraná, Brazil. Twenty leaves were selected from six individuals from each vegetation type. Several leaf parameters were analyzed including leaf area, leaf dry mass, specific leaf area (SLA), trichomes and stomata densities, and anatomical measurements. The leaves of M. sellowiana from EGL and FODAM presented pronounced xeric characteristics, with higher mean values for stomata density, trichome density on the adaxial surface, thickness of the cuticle of adaxial epidermis, spongy parenchyma, and total lamina thickness; and lower mean values for leaf area, dry leaf mass, and specific leaf area. The use of ANOVA and PCA detected a mesophylly-to-xeromorphy gradient among the four vegetation types: FOM>FODM>EGL>FODAM. The differences are apparently associated to several environmental conditions, mainly soil characteristics and light intensity.