When Short Stature Is an Asset in Trees.

With their imposing grandeur, the small number of very tall tree species attract a disproportionate amount of scientific study. We right this bias by focusing here on the shorter trees, which often grow in the shade of the giants and many other places besides. That tall trees are so restricted in distribution indicates that there are far more habitats available for small trees. We discuss some leading candidates for the mechanisms that limit maximum plant height in any given habitat, as well as why every habitat has a range of plant sizes. At least two attributes – greater adaptation capacity and higher drought resistance – suggest that the forests of the future belong to short trees. Highlights Global warming threatens many tree species, particularly through drought. We give reasons to think that short-statured tree species are best equipped to face drought and global warming in general because they have a high adaptation capacity and a high resistance to drought-induced cavitation. Short trees are able to persist in a higher number of niches than tall species, which are much restricted to a narrow climatic belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]