Comparative Morphological Analyses in Marginal Beech Populations

Abstract

There are several reports regarding the occurrence of Fagus Orientalis individuals at the hot margins of the beech distribution range in Romania. The aim of this paper is to analyse the morphological variation in marginal populations of beech, where two morphological forms (F. sylvatic and F. Orientalis) might coexist according to the literature. The analyses focused on the most discriminating leaf descriptors: lamina length, and a number of secondary veins pairs. Additionally, comparative evaluations of the number of stomata per unit area (mm2) were done. Only a limited number of individuals showed specific characteristics of F. Orientalis in two out of the three populations sampled. However, the morphological differences between taxa were small.