Abstract
Leaf photosynthetic measurements using a portable 14CO2 field system were carried out and leaf relative growth rates, Rl, were determined at different leaf positions of three alpine plant species throughout the growing season. Initially there was a period of high RI associated with a period of high or increasing photosynthetic activity. Following this stage was a long period of no net change in length of the living leaf with photosynthetic activity eventually exhibiting a steady decrease. The final ontogenetic stage was a period of negative Rs denoting leaf senescence which was associated with a marked decline in leaf CO2 uptake. Ontogenetic timing of these alpine species is geared with the surge and decline of individual leaf photosynthetic activity so that one to several leaves operating at near maximal photosynthetic capacity for existing conditions are always maintained during the growing season for each plant.
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