Tree morphology responds to neighbourhood competition and slope in species-rich forests of subtropical China

▶ No species-specific differences in growth response due to ecological equivalence. ▶ Crown area affected by dbh and biotic variables related to neighbours. ▶ Relative crown displacement (RD) influenced by both biotic and abiotic variables. ▶ Stem inclination (SI) influenced by local slope inclination. ▶ RD and SI important mechanisms to ameliorate foraging for light in slope forests.