Foliar Adaptations in Aster hispidus var. insularis (Asteraceae)

Abstract

A comparative study of leaf morphology of Aster hispidus and its coastal variety, A. hispidus var. insularis revealed that the latter has larger and thicker leaves than the former. The anatomical analysis indicated that the cell number of the leaf was lower but the cell size was larger in A. hispidus var. insularis. The reduction of cell number in the leaves of A. hispidus var. insularis was compensated by an increase in cell volume while the expansion of cells could be considered an adaptive strategy to coastal environments that allowed saving of water in the plant body. Salinity and drought seemed to have played a crucial role in the ecotypic differentiation.