Effect of shade on morphological and growth characteristics of six hanging plants

Morph ological adaptability and changes of growth characteristics of six hanging plants were studied under shading treatment by measuring leaf length,leaf width,leaf area,mass per area of leaf and stomata density. The results showed that the leaf length,leaf width and leaf area increased but mass per area of leaf and stomata density decreased as the shading intensity weakened. The Commelina communis,Zebrina pendula and Chlorophytum comosum have higher shade tolerance than that of Hedera helix,Nematanthua cheerio and Pilea mollis according to the plasticity index and variance analysis.