L. Hably szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 19. 1986 (Budapest, 1986)

Hably, Lilla: Analysis of leaf size of the Ipolytarnóc flora from a climatological point of view

Another comparative material is from Costa Rica, studied by DOLPH & DILCHER (1980 a), in which the leaf-size distribution from 38 localities may be compared with those from this study. The following seven leaf-size categories were distinguished: leptophyll (up to 0.25 sq cm in area) mesophyll (45.0 - 182.25 sq cm in area) nanophyll (0.25 - 2.25 sq cm in area) macrophyll (182.25 - 1640.2 sq cm in area) microphyll (2.25 - 20.25 sq cm in area) megaphyll (> 1640.2 sq cm in area), notophyll (20.25 - 45.0 sq cm in area) the area of which was calculated from the formula (CAIN & CASTRO 1959): A=2/3(L-W) A= area of the leaf or leaflet in sq cm L= leaf length in cm W= leaf width in cm. In order to facilitate easier comparison, the percentile frequency of the large leaves (> 20.25 sq cm) is also given. These data were also depicted in relation to climate. During the reconstruction of the Ipolytarnóc flora, both of the above approaches have been tested in the hope that an impression closer to the actual picture might be obtained. We must take into consideration, however, that fossilizatin selection does not favour large leaves, which are probably under-represented in the fossil flora. Even though Sabal major and Calamus noszkyi occur in large numbers in the IpolytarFig. 1. Leaf-size distribution in the Ipolytarnóc flora