Positional and Seasonal Variation in Oak (Quercus; Fagaceae) Leaf Morphology

Abstract

Within-tree and seasonal variation in quantitative characters of oak leaves were evaluated by factorial analysis of variance. All linear and areal measurements illustrate marked within-tree and seasonal variation. Numbers of lobes and bristle tips and primary vein angle appear relatively stable within trees and among seasons. In many instances, size-correction reduces both within-tree and seasonal variance to nonsignificant levels. However, all characters do not illustrate the same trends either within trees or across the seasons. The results have important implications for those attempting to evaluate among-tree and among-population variation.