The hydraulic architecture of Thuja occidentalis

Leaf specific conductivities (LSC's) were measured on stem segments excised from various points within the canopy of eastern white cedar trees, Thuja occidentalis L. LSC is defined as the water flow rate (kilograms per second) through a stem caused by a unit of pressure potential gradient (megapascals per metre) per unit leaf surface area supplied by the stem (square metres). LSC's were measured on stems of various diameters and were found to vary over a factor of 30 in magnitude from 1 × 10−5 kg s−1 m−1 MPa−1 for stems 1 mm in diameter to 3 × 10−4 kg s−1 m−1 MPa−1 for stems 100 mm in diameter. LSC was found to be related to stem diameter (D (millimetres)) by the following empirical formula: LSC = 9.58 × 10−6 × D0.727. LSC's measured on stem segments including a node had significantly lower LSC's than internodal stem segments of the same length. Various water relations parameters were measured on cedar trees on a diurnal basis including evaporative flux, leaf resistance to evaporation, shoot water potenti...

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