Clinal Variation in the Surface‐Volume Relationships of the Columnar Cactus Lophocereus Schottii in Northwestern Mexico

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Abstract
Regression analysis of clines in the surface—volume ratios of stems of the columnar cactus Lophocereus schottii in Sonora, Mexico, reveals similar relationships for clinal interpopulation variation and ontogenetic intrapopulation variation. Smaller surface—volume ratios (larger, thicker stems) occur in the northern parts of the distributions of Lophocereus and the othe large columnar species; the younger (sterile) growths of all populations also have smaller surface—volume ratios. Evolution of the surface—volume ratios of the columnar Cactaceae is discussed in relation to complex environmental gradients of temperature and moisture that characterize their effective environments in northwestern Mexico and southwestern United States.

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