Abstract
A continuum of juvenile to reproductively mature ocotillos (Fouquieria splendens) was studied to determine changes in dry mass partitioning and production in relation to plant morphology. Gas exchange and productivity for 1‐yr‐old plants were also studied under controlled temperatures typical of winter, spring, and summer, which are the seasons that receive rain in the Sonoran Desert. Root:shoot ratios of young ocotillos decreased with total plant dry mass, suggesting smaller plants need relatively more soil resources than do larger plants. Young ocotillos had a greater scaling exponent for plant height versus total plant dry mass than for basal diameter versus total plant dry mass, which is indicative of their shoot morphology. Average rooting depth increased only 0.05 m per meter increase in plant height, reflecting the dependence of ocotillos on shallow soil water and explaining their rapid phenological responses to light rainfall events. Young ocotillos experienced maximal CO2 uptake when exposed to s...
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
