“In the Mediterranean climate, heliophilia is merely a means of securing the xeromorphic adaptation that is necessary if the plants are to survive the difficult period of their first years of life.”

“Most of the hydromorphic and xeromorphic modifications found among dicot leaves, however, also occur in monocot leaves in similar environments.”

“Most xeromorphic leaves have a high volume-to-surface ratio i.e., they are small and compact.”