leaf traits

Floristic boundaries, where the range limits of multiple species coincide, are frequently recognised ecological phenomena for which underlying mechanisms are often unclear. Plant species range limits are often determined by their tolerance to climatic conditions. Therefore, the positions of floristic boundaries are also likely related to climatic conditions. Seedlings are a vulnerable life stage and are often highly susceptible to adverse climatic events such as frosts, and frost susceptibility varies among plant species.

Berberis darwinii (Berberidaceae) is a serious environmental weed in New Zealand, capable of invading a range of different light environments from grazed pasture to intact forest. According to optimal partitioning models, some plants optimise growth under different environmental conditions by shifting biomass allocation among tissue types (e.g. roots, shoots) to maximise the capture of limiting resources (e.g. water, light).