VARIABILITY OF CERTAIN MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LEAVES OF EUROPEAN BEECH (Fagus sylvatica L.) OF FIVE PROVENANCES IN PART OF ITS NATURAL RANGE IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

UDK 582.632.2:581.45(497.6) This paper deals with the morphological variability of beech leaves (Fagus sylvatica L.) of various provenances in part of its natural range in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aim of the study was to determine whether beech leaves of various provenances in Bosnia and Herzegovina demonstrate morphological variability, and whether the morphology of beech leaves is an inherited characteristic or is influenced by the habitat conditions of a given provenance. Following an examination of the morphological characteristics of the beech leaves of each provenance, both intra-provenance and inter-provenance variability of certain leaf characteristics was identified, among both naturally regenerated specimens and seedlings raised from seed from the same provenance. As regards heredity and morphological leaf characteristics, no correlation was identified between the morphology of leaves of specific provenance and the equivalent nursery-raised seedlings. This suggests that the majority of the morphological parameters of beech leaves are not inherited, and that beech in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a fairly variable and adaptive species.