Data from: Relationships between leaf shape and climate in Rhododendron mucronulatum

We studied the relationships between morphometric parameters of leaves of
Rhododendron mucronulatum and climate features at the northern limit of
its distribution. A great morphological diversity in leaf shapes,
including strong deviations from the typical lanceolate and acute leaf
shape was revealed. We found that the frequency of an elliptic shape with
obtuse apex is the result of morphological adaptation to particular
climatic conditions and that the diversity of leaf morphological features
were strongly correlated with temperature and annual precipitation. The
climatic parameters of the winter period were found to be more important
for determining the leaf shape than the climate during the growing season.