Photosynthetic parameters (mean ± SD, <i>n</i> = 5) of <i>Quercus variabilis</i> seedlings grown in different geographical locations and in a common garden in China.

ND = northern distribution, Zhuang-He in NE China , MD = middle distribution, He-Feng in central China, SD = southern distribution, An-Ning in SW China; AQE, apparent quantum efficiency, µmol CO2/µmol photons; Amax, maximum photosynthetic rates, µmol m−2 s−1; Rd, dark respiration, µmol m−2 s−1; LCP, light compensation point, µmol m−2 s−1; LSP, light saturation point, µmol m−2 s−1. Different letters indicate significant difference at p<0.05 level for each parameter among the three locations within each experiment (i.e. in situ or ex situ).