Traits are the primary attributes that distinguish a species niche. Species and higher taxa are part of a structured phylogeny, and variation in plant traits depends on lineage as well as on environmental conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate linkages between taxonomic identity, shared ancestry, and environment for understanding the variation in leaf traits. We investigated the evolutionary relationships, based on multiple gene sequences among 26 plant species sampled along an elevational gradient from 650 to 3600 m a.s.l. in the central Himalaya. We tested for the phylogenetic signal based on three different measures in 10 leaf traits having a significant association with the resource acquisition-conservation trade-offs axis and influencing plant growth, development, and ecological performance. We further assessed the role of elevation and growth forms as the potential drivers of leaf traits variation while controlling for phylogeny. 5 out of 10 leaf traits showed significant phylogenetic signal. Plant species clustered more often by growth forms at the tips of the phylogeny indicating multiple instances of independent evolution. Evergreen taxa showed niche separation with deciduous and incorporated larger trait variation. Trait variations were guided by both growth forms and elevation when accounted for phylogeny. Growth form has a higher contribution to trait variation compared to elevation. Trade-offs were detected between resource conservation and resource acquisition machinery traits (that would maximise carbon gain), differing between growth forms and along elevation.

性状是区分物种生态位的主要属性。物种和较高的分类单元是结构化系统发育的一部分，植物性状的变化取决于谱系以及环境条件。因此，至关重要的是研究分类学身份，共同血统和环境之间的联系，以了解叶片性状的变化。我们根据喜马拉雅山中部从650至3600 m asl的海拔梯度采样的26种植物物种中的多个基因序列，研究了进化关系。我们基于三种不同的指标对10种叶片性状进行了系统发育信号测试，这些性状与资源获取-保护权衡轴显着相关，并且影响了植物的生长，发育和生态性能。我们进一步评估了海拔和生长形式在控制系统发育的过程中作为叶片性状变异的潜在驱动因素的作用。10个叶片性状中有5个显示出显着的系统发生信号。在系统发育的尖端，植物物种更常通过生长形式聚集，表明发生了多次独立进化。常绿类群显示出落叶的小生境分离，并整合了较大的性状变异。当考虑系统发育时，性状变异既受生长形式又受高程的指导。与海拔相比，生长形式对性状变异的贡献更大。在资源保护和资源获取机制特征（这将使碳最大化）之间进行权衡，增长形式和海拔高度之间存在差异。