Greaver, Tara Lin. University of Miami, Department of Biology, PO Box 249118, Coral Gables, Fl 33143.
Light heterogeneity influences the anatomy and physiology of leaves.
Ipomoea pes-caprae has a symmetric leaf anatomy, with palisade parenchyma on both the adaxial and abaxial surfaces. Because the leaf anatomy is symmetric, I tested the hypothesis that the adaxial and adaxial surfaces responded independently to local light environment. Sampling was restricted to the six youngest fully expanded leaves, and thereby removed differences in nitrogen content of leaves due to age. Two types of light environments were characterized based on ground cover substrate.