Leaf Venation and Morphology Help Explain Physiological Variation in and Across Microhabitats in the Mojave Desert, CA.

Different microclimates can have significant impact on the physiology of succulents that inhabit arid environments such as the Mojave Desert (California). We investigated variation in leaf physiology, morphology and anatomy of two dominant Mojave Desert monocots, (Joshua tree) and , growing along a soil water availability gradient. Stomatal conductance ( ) and leaf thickness were recorded in the field at three different sites (north-western slope, south-eastern slope, and alluvial fan) in March of 2019.