roadside tree

pavement

soil sealing

water stress

anatomical plasticity

leaf nutrient

Plants

Forest

The stresses imposed by impermeable paved grounds are known to result in poor health and drastically depressed benefits of street trees, but not all trees respond similarly. In this study, we investigated anatomical and chemical traits to evaluate the phenotypic plasticity of seven common street species. Analyses were performed on wood cores and leaves collected from street sites and a forest park site in Hefei, eastern China. We found significant increases in the vessel size of Sapium sebiferum (Ss) for the street trees, and the vessel frequency of Albizia julibrissin (Aj) and Koelreuteria bipinnata Franch. var. integrifoliola (Kb), indicating higher water transport efficiency and drought resistance under impervious pavements, respectively. The specific leaf area tended to be higher in Kb, Sapindus mukorossi (Sm) and Ss in the street site, while it was lower in Cinnamomum camphora (Cc) and Platanus acerifolia (Pa) for the street trees. Stomatal traits showed little change between the street site and the park site. Cc exhibited lower chlorophyll and carotenoid concentration in street trees. Ss and Cc showed high plasticity in terms of anatomical and chemical properties, respectively, while Acer buergerianum was unresponsive. These results provide a physiological basis for future street species selection in eastern China.