Abstract
Mediterranean evergreen plants although basically xerophytes can exhibit several different strategies (Walter, Kreeb, 1970). Sclerophylly seems to play an important role in the “adaptation” of these plants to the natural climatic changes of mediterranean areas (Stocker, 1960). According to speculative classical work of earlier eco-physiologists, sclerophylly was envisaged as an adaptative mechanism for decreasing transpiration. However there is also evidence that sclerophylly structure vitally affects energy interception and dissipation. Moreover, sclerophylly characteristics of mediterranean plants usually show marked developmental plasticity (Thoday, 1953) leading to a canopy arrangement which ensures optimal photosynthetic capacities as long as water is available to plants. Ceratonia siliqua is a moderate sclerophyll species that seems well adapted to a wide spectrum of environmental conditions of the true mediterranean climate (Catarino, Bento-Pereira, 1976).
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© 1981 Dr W. Junk Publishers, The Hague/Boston/London
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Catarino, F.M., Correia, O.A., Webb, E., David, M. (1981). Morphological and Physiological Responses of the Mediterranean Evergreen Sclerophyll, Ceratonia Siliqua, to Different Light Intensities. In: Margaris, N.S., Mooney, H.A. (eds) Components of productivity of Mediterranean-climate regions Basic and applied aspects. Tasks for Vegetation Science, vol 4. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8683-1_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8683-1_3
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