Have you ever encountered a hierarchical structure of the leaf surface (papillae + superimposed wax crystals) in Rhododendron? I found this in one European montane species, R. myrtifolium. Here the feature is briefly described and pictured, although with emphasis on systematics: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367253017331596?via%3Dihub
I think it is interesting to know how much this feature is represented in the genus and what adaptive function it may have.
Eugene, yes I have often seen abaxial papillae on leaves. Can't tell you the species right now, but hope to check on that in the recent future. Look forward to reading your article in Flora 2017. Best, Erik
Dear Erik, I will send you the paper in private message. With best regards.
Eugene,your study of the leaf surface (well developed) shows,
that the plant using the formation of papille needs to keep the humididy ...
May be you mountain's climate is not like the climate of Extrem Orient.
It is good to compare the ocean pacific species and the rododendron of Carpate
Dear Marpha, yes, the Carpathian climate is largely humid due to high precipitation, but in (sub-)alpine belt where Rhododendron exclusively grows the high winds and insolation make it more xeric. Thus I think the combination of papillae (to keep humidity) and well-developed epicuticular waxes (e.g., to remove excessive water from stomata etc.) featuring Carpathian's Rhododendron is highly beneficial in this environment.
However, as far as I know, such a hierarchical surface structure have mostly been described in grassy plants from substropics, wetlands and disturbed areas (see works by Barthlott who studied this quite extensively) and never in Rhododendron.
I like your idea of comparing the Carpathian and Oriental species. Do you know anybody working in this or similar field in France and being interested in collaboration? I am going to visit the National Museum of Natural History in Paris on August 2017 (in a week!) and will be there during one month working at Herbarium under the supervision of Dr. Thierry Deroin. If you are interested, we could meet and have a talk on the subject.
Hello Erik, (and Eugene). I remember that the rhododendron from the peaks in the Blue Mountains in Coweeta Lab had this white ish under the surface that always remember me the lower surface of a tropical tree Simarouba amara in La Selva, Costa Rica. These papillae surface looks under the microscope as an egg carton(?). The species was I think R. catawbiense.
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