The Ecological Wood Anatomy of the Lilacs (Syringa Oblata Var. GlraldII) on Mount Taibei in Northwestern China

Abstract

The wood structure of Syringa oblata var. giraldii growing on the northem slope of Mount Taibei varies with increasing altitude, rainfall and to some extent with plant size and stern diameter. On Mount Taibei rainfall increases with altitude from 1000-1800 m. Average growth ring width, vessel member length, vessel diameter, fibre-tracheid length and diameter, and ray height increase with altitude and rainfall; vessel frequency, ray frequency, and percentage of solitary vessels decrease along the same ecological gradient. These results are discussed against the background of general ecological trends: the unusual reversal of the altitudinal trends can be accounted for by the rainfall pattern associated with plant size variation on the northern slope of Mount Taibei.