At Mono Lake, California, we investigated field water relations, leaf and xylem chemistry, and gas exchange for two shrub species that commonly co-occur on marginally saline soils, and have similar life histories and rooting patterns. Both species had highest root length densities close to the surface and have large tap roots that probably reach ground water at 3.4-5.0 m on the study site. The species differed greatly in leaf water relations and leaf chemistry. Sarcobatus vermiculatus had a seasonal minimum predawn xylem pressure potential (?pd) of -2.7 MPa and a midday potential (?md) of -4.1 MPa. These were significantly lower than for Chrysothamnus nauseosus, which had a minimum ?pd of -1.0 MPa and ?md of -2.2 MPa. Sarcobatus had [...]
