Functional differences in leaves and carbon-assimilating tissues between steppe and forest plants in the Altai Mountains

The quantitative traits of the leaf mesophyll were studied for 31 steppe and forest plant species belonging to 21 families in Altai Mountains at an altitude 1600-2150 m above sea level. Herbaceous perennials predominated among species. had isopalisade, homogeneous dorsoventral type meso-phyll structure. Among zone, structure prevailed, zone proportion with is lower due appearance succulents isopalisade mesophyll. belt distinguished low density by larger cells their number per unit area compared plants. As a result integral parameters - chloroplasts total surface higher values belt. It concluded that strictly correspond conditions growth.