Morphological and physiological divergences within Quercus ilex support the existence of different ecotypes depending on climatic dryness

摘要

Background and AimsSeveral 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.