Effects of developmental stage on the leaf functional traits of the endangered shrub species Disanthus cercidifolius var. longipes

Changes in leaf functional traits, including leaf thickness(LT), leaf area(LA), leaf water content(LWC), specific leaf area(SLA), leaf nitrogen content(LNC), and leaf phosphorus content(LPC), as well as trait syndromes were studied in Disanthus cercidifolius var.longipes H.T.Chang during different developmental stages. Results showed that the leaf functional traits of D. cercidifolius var. longipes were significantly different among deve-lopmental stages. Both LT and LA increased with plant development, whereas LWC, SLA, LNC, and LPC decreased with plant development. Principal component analysis showed that the trait syndromes of D. cercidifolius var. longipes changed toward increasing LT and LA, but decreasing LWC, SLA, LNC, and LPC with plant development. Thus, the economic strategy of D.cercidifolius var. longipes changed from fast-profit to slow-profit pattern with deve-lopmental stage.