Relationship between antophyte foliar morphology and abiotic factors in the main rainforests of Eastern Cuba

Abstract

The foliar morphology of representative antophytes in four rainforest types of Eastern Cuba was studied in relation to the main abiotic factors. Although there are several leaf types in these forests, the microphyll type is the most important among endemic species in the ophiolites complex and the Montane rainforest. At the Lowland rainforest (metamorphic complex) the mesophyll leaf was the most important. Most foliar epi- dermis had structures normally found in mesomorphic plants, but xeromorphic and higromorphic morphologies were also present.