Am. J. Bot. Join the BSA
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (17)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Cornejo, D. O.
Right arrow Articles by Simpson, B. B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Cornejo, D. O.
Right arrow Articles by Simpson, B. B.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Cornejo, D. O.
Right arrow Articles by Simpson, B. B.

American Journal of Botany, Vol 84, 1482, Copyright © 1997 by Botanical Society of America, Inc.

STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT

Analysis of form and function in North American columnar cacti (tribe Pachycereeae)

DO Cornejo and BB Simpson

Simple and multivariate linear models were used to demonstrate the influence of mechanical design and climate on stem morphology and branching architecture in 25 species of North American columnar cacti. The effect of phyletic inertia was tested by the method of independent contrasts. Stem girth was found to increase significantly slower with increased height within taxa (cross-sectional stem area ;ps [plant height] 0.603), than across taxon (cross-sectional stem area ;ps [plant height] 1.451). Juveniles are shown to be mechanically overbuilt and subsequently grow into more slender adult forms determined in part by structural limitations and the optimization of other stem functions. We make a structural analogy of relatively rigid columnar cacti to concrete columns and compare plants and models with similar growth forms lacking woody skeletons (barrel cacti). Taxa with woody support achieved a surface-to-volume ratio six times greater than taxa without woody support. Across taxon, cooler winter temperatures were associated with larger stem girths, and greater annual precipitation was associated with less frequent branching. The relationship between total plant surface and volume approaches isometry within taxa, but across taxon average individuals are scaled replicates. We hypothesize that architecture and average plant height are adjusted, in an evolutionary sense, to maintain geometric similitude between surface and volume along a climatic gradient.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Am. J. Bot.Home page
S. Hartmann, J. D. Nason, and D. Bhattacharya
Phylogenetic origins of Lophocereus (Cactaceae) and the senita cactus-senita moth pollination mutualism
Am. J. Botany, July 1, 2002; 89(7): 1085 - 1092.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Bot.Home page
J. D. Mauseth
Theoretical aspects of surface-to-volume ratios and water-storage capacities of succulent shoots
Am. J. Botany, August 1, 2000; 87(8): 1107 - 1115.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 Am. J. Bot.Home page
K. J. Niklas, F. Molina-Freaner, and C. Tinoco-Ojanguren
Biomechanics of the columnar cactus Pachycereus pringlei
Am. J. Botany, June 1, 1999; 86(6): 767 - 775.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1997 by the Botanical Society of America, Inc.