Evergreen and deciduous species coexist in tropical dry forests and savannas. Previous studies have shown that they exhibit divergent strategies of drought tolerance and hydraulic safety under prolonged seasonal drought. However, the ecological strategies in hydraulic efficiency and mechanical strength (two major functions of the xylems of woody plant species) have not been well characterized for Chinese savanna woody species with contrasting leaf phenology.
Click here for original story, Trade-offs exist in hydraulic and mechanical traits of plants in Chinese savanna
Source: Phys.org