Inter - and intrapopulation variation of leaf morphological traits in natural stands of Buxus hyrcana [Pojark.] in Caspian Forests [Iran]

The leaf morphology of Buxus hyrcana (Pojark.), shade-tolerant and evergreen species growing in understorey of Caspian Forest was studied in five natural Iranian populations in order to recognize the pattern of within- and among-population variation of selected leaf morphological traits. Fifteen traits were selected and measured or calculated – list in Appendix. Leaves were collected from different geographical (between 36°13′N and 53°15′E) populations of B. hyrcana growing in the Caspian Forests located in Mazandaran Province (northern Iran) in the similar vegetation and site conditions but on different altitudes. Ten mature trees from five relatively small areas (0.5–1 ha) were selected in June. Then ANOVA model was used with both crossed and nested effects. The results showed that variation among the populations was significant in 13 of 15 traits (P <0.05); variation among the trees in the population was significant in 14 of 15 traits (P <0.05). Among all characters measured, the greatest plasticity was found for weight, leaf area mass and specific leaf mass. Function 1 explained 30% of the total variance and Function 2 represented another 17% of the total variance. PCA analysis showed that the most important role in function 1 allocated to width of lamina and leaf figure ratio (length of lamina/width of lamina) and in function 2 to top of leaf figure (width of lamina in 0.1 its length/width of lamina). The results of the average linkage clustering method evidenced four distinct clusters. Generally, morphological traits of leaves of B. hyrcana showed low variation among the considered populations based on clustering analysis, although some trees inside the population showed significantly different values in comparison with other trees.