Leaf Morphology Variation in Brant, Oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) in Relation to Altitude Gradient

Morphological characteristics of individuals are due to hereditary and environmental factors. Regarding to the importance of leaf morphology in systematics investigations and bearing up the effects of environmental variations, especially altitudinal variations on these traits, the differentiation feasibility of brant oak in a restricted altitudinal gradient is investigated. A total number of 400 leaves from 40 individual ramets in Armarde, in an altitudinal ranges from 1580 to 1844 meters above sea level were sampled and 29 quantitative and qualitative traits were measured. The results revealed that the number of teeth and the shape of leaf at lower altitudes are lesser than higher altitudes. Also, leaf base angle has a negative and significant correlation with the altitude. In two altitudinal classes, the shape of leaf tip and the angle of midrib and vein, showed the lowest plasticity and coefficient of variation with respect to environmental conditions. Ramets were classified in three different classes based on cluster analysis and the separator traits were the maximum leaf width, leaf area and sinusoidal angle. Considering the fact that the separator traits would not showed any significant association with altitude, it seems that some variations might be likely due to physiological response of leaves to environmental variations. However, it's more likely that the occurrence of inter and intra specific hybridization between brant´s oak species would culminated in separation of the individuals.