Leaf pubescence, water relations and chlorophyll fluorescence in two subspecies of Lotus creticus L.

The objective of the present study was to compare the plant morphology, wat er relations and photochemical efficiency of photosystem 2 in two wild Medi terranean species Lotus creticus creticus and Lotus creticus cytisoides. L. creticus creticus showed higher density of trichomes and stomatal density on the adaxial leaf surface than L. creticus cytisoides, whereas L. creticu s cytisoides showed higher stomatal density in abaxial surface than L. cret icus creticus. These morphological traits promoted clear differences in lea f surface water retention and leaf reflectance. Leaf water potential and ph otochemical efficiency were lower in L. creticus cytisoides than in L. cret icus creticus.