Anisophylly Is Associated With Climate in the Neotropical Genus <i>Triolena</i> (Melastomataceae)

ABSTRACT Anisophylly is a peculiar leaf trait in some opposite‐leaved taxa where opposing leaves are distinctly unequal. This study uses an expert‐curated specimen dataset to explore relationships of canopy cover and climate with the presence and intraspecific variation of anisophylly in the genus Triolena. Canopy and climate conditions are investigated between species and within a single species through beta regression models. No relationship was found between canopy cover and anisophylly. However, anisophylly is associated with conditions of high precipitation and high isothermality, which is evident across Triolena and within a single species. In addition, partitioned ecoregion analyses illustrate that different types of anisophyllous leaf states occur in distinct ranges of precipitation and isothermality. Results suggest that anisophylly is associated with climate in Triolena .