Abstract

ZUNIGA, E. Á.; SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ, A.  and  GRANADOS SANCHEZ, D.. Leaf morphology of Quercus laeta Liebm. in Los Mármoles National Park, Hidalgo, México. Rev. Chapingo ser. cienc. for. ambient [online]. 2009, vol.15, n.2, pp.87-93. ISSN 2007-4018.

Little is known about the species of Quercus in Mexico, due to its wide distribution, high intraspecific morphological variability and its capacity to form hybrids, which makes taxonomy of the genus difficult. The objective of the present study was to contribute to knowledge on foliar morphological variation of Q. laeta, a widely distributed species in Los Mármoles National Park (PNM), the second-largest natural protected area in the state of Hidalgo. Seventeen morphological characteristics were measured in 470 leaves collected from the lower halves of the canopies of 47 trees. All characteristics examined showed a normal distribution; a nested analysis of variance showed that the only significant morphological differences in Q. laeta leaves between sites were diameter of the midvein in the central and basal portion of the leaf and petiole diameter at the base of the leaf. At the level of individuals, morphological variation was significant in 94 % of the characteristics analyzed. Discriminant analysis showed that the characters that differed significantly among sites were maximum width of the leaf, distance between apical and basal sutures, distance between apical and basal lobules, leaf length, and petiole diameter. Some of the foliar morphological characteristics analyzed can be considered specific to Q. laeta.

Keywords : oaks; foliar variability; natural protected area; altitude.