Scaling relationship between total leaf size and total number of leaves per culm of <i>Semiarundinaria densiflora</i>

The vertical foliage in S. densiflora leads to self-shading, promoting larger, thinner basipetal shade leaves. This results in a disproportionate increase in AT with NT and an isometric AT vs. MT relationship, which contrasts with the "diminishing returns" pattern seen in individual leaves. Canopy architecture therefore is key in shaping biomass allocation.