02284nas a2200193   4500008004100000245014200041210006900183260001900252300001200271490000800283520159500291100003201886700002701918700002101945700002801966700002301994700002902017856004402046       2014                        eng d00aMorphological and physiological divergences within Quercus ilex support the existence of different ecotypes depending on climatic dryness0 aMorphological and physiological divergences within Quercus ilex   cAugust 1, 2014  a301-3130 v1143 aBackground and Aims Several studies show apparently contradictory findings about the functional convergence within the Mediterranean woody flora. In this context, this study evaluates the variability of functional traits within holm oak (Quercus ilex) to elucidate whether provenances corresponding to different morphotypes represent different ecotypes locally adapted to the prevaling stress levels.Methods Several morphological and physiological traits were measured at leaf and shoot levels in 9-year-old seedlings of seven Q. ilex provenances including all recognized morphotypes. Plants were grown in a common garden for 9 years under the same environmental conditions to avoid possible biases due to site-specific characteristics.Key Results Leaf morphometry clearly separates holm oak provenances into ‘ilex’ (more elongated leaves with low vein density) and ‘rotundifolia’ (short and rounded leaves with high vein density) morphotypes. Moreover, these morphotypes represent two consistent and very contrasting functional types in response to dry climates, mainly in terms of leaf area, major vein density, leaf specific conductivity, resistance to drought-induced cavitation and turgor loss point.Conclusions The ‘ilex’ and ‘rotundifolia’ morphotypes correspond to different ecotypes as inferred from their contrasting functional traits. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the combined use of morphological and physiological traits has provided support for the concept of these two holm oak morphotypes being regarded as two different species.1 aPeguero-Pina, José, Javier1 aSancho-Knapik, Domingo1 aBarrón, Eduardo1 aCamarero, Julio, Jesús1 aVilagrosa, Alberto1 aGil-Pelegrín, Eustaquio  uhttps://quercus.myspecies.info/node/168