ArticleAnnals of botany2021
Leaf size estimation based on leaf length, width and shape.
Article in Annals of botany, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 46 papers.
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46 citing papers in PubMed.
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- Decoupled scaling relationship between bamboo individual size and leaf morphological characteristics.BMC plant biology · 2026Article
- A novel low-tech lined bed cultivation enhances drought stress tolerance of cucumber in semi-arid conditions.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Patterns and drivers of leaf carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometry in the desert steppe of the Ili River Basin.Frontiers in plant science · 2026Article
- Hybridization and introgression between two fig trees with contrasting ecological preferences.BMC ecology and evolution · 2025Article
- Non-Destructive Estimation of Leaf Size and Shape Characteristics in Advanced Progenies ofPlants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Plants originating from more extreme biomes have improved leaf thermoregulation.Annals of botany · 2025Article
- From scorching sands to survival: adaptive tale of the genus Tribulus (T. longipetalus, T. terrestris and T. pentandrus) in desert ecosystem.Die Naturwissenschaften · 2025Article
- Application of the Montgomery Equation in Morphometric Analysis of Tepals: A Case Study ofPlants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Re-Expression of the Lorenz Asymmetry Coefficient on the Rotated and Right-Shifted Lorenz Curve of Leaf Area Distributions.Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- A Nonlinear Fitting Method Provides Strong Support for Geometric Series of Stomatal Area in 12 Magnoliaceae Species.Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Resolving the contrasting leaf hydraulic adaptation of CThe New phytologist · 2025Article
- A computer vision approach for quantifying leaf shape of maize (Frontiers in plant science · 2025Article
- Using the Montgomery-Koyama-Smith equation to calculate the stomatal area per unit lamina area for 12 Magnoliaceae species.Annals of botany · 2024Article
- The Geometric Series Hypothesis of Leaf Area Distribution and Its Link to the Calculation of the Total Leaf Area per Shoot ofPlants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
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8 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
aimsLeaf size has considerable ecological relevance, making it desirable to obtain leaf size estimations for as many species worldwide as possible. Current global databases, such as TRY, contain leaf size data for ~30 000 species, which is only ~8% of known species worldwide. Yet, taxonomic descriptions exist for the large majority of the remainder. Here we propose a simple method to exploit information on leaf length, width and shape from species descriptions to robustly estimate leaf areas, thus closing this considerable knowledge gap for this important plant functional trait.
methodsUsing a global dataset of all major leaf shapes measured on 3125 leaves from 780 taxa, we quantified scaling functions that estimate leaf size as a product of leaf length, width and a leaf shape-specific correction factor. We validated our method by comparing leaf size estimates with those obtained from image recognition software and compared our approach with the widely used correction factor of 2/3. KEY
resultsCorrection factors ranged from 0.39 for highly dissected, lobed leaves to 0.79 for oblate leaves. Leaf size estimation using leaf shape-specific correction factors was more accurate and precise than estimates obtained from the correction factor of 2/3.
conclusionOur method presents a tractable solution to accurately estimate leaf size when only information on leaf length, width and shape is available or when labour and time constraints prevent usage of image recognition software. We see promise in applying our method to data from species descriptions (including from fossils), databases, field work and on herbarium vouchers, especially when non-destructive in situ measurements are needed.
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