Architecture and Growth Strategies of Tropical Trees in Relation to Successional Status

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Abstract
(1) Crown architecture, growth and branch display were studied in two early-successional (Anthocephalus cadamba and Duabanga sonneratioides) and two late-successional (Artocarpus chaplasha and Dillenia pentagyna) tree species of subtropical humid forest in north-eastern India. While the early-successional species conform morphologically to Massart''s model (Duabanga sonneratioides) or Roux''s model (Anthocephalus cadamba), the late-successional species conform to Scarrone''s model (Dillenia pentagyna) or Rauh''s model (Artocarpus chaplasha) of tree architecture. (2) While rhythmic extension growth of the leader axis has been identified on the basis of differences in leaf morphology and branch organization in the architectural models, this does not always agree with detailed growth analysis, as, for example, in Anthocephalus cadamba and Duabanga sonneratioides. (3) The extension and radial growth rates of early-successional species were very rapid compared with late-successional species. (4) Faster growth over a longer annual-growth period results in the sparse branch arrangement in early-successional species which facilitates greater leaf exposure. (5) The slower growth rate over a shorter growth period results in densely packed canopies with mutual shading of leaves of late-successional species. (6) In the early-successional species the production and the contribution of first order branches to the total branch system was much higher than in the late-successional species, which had plasticity in the orientation and overall display of their branches in relation to irradiance.