Abstract

The morphological and anatomical analyses of leaves in the serpentine ecotype of Adenophora triphylla var. japonica (Regel) H. Hara were carried out. In comparison to the normal type of this variety, the serpentine ecotype has a narrower leaf due to decrease in the number and size of cells. The stenophyllization process of the serpentine ecotype is similar to that of the rheophytic ecotype. The study further indicates that the decreased number and size of cells is a general tendency in stenophyllization. By contrast, leaf thickness and stomatal density of the serpentine ecotype differed significantly from those of the rheophytic ecotype, suggesting that the two ecotypes are differently adapted to solar radiation and evaporation.

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