Relationships between specific leaf area and leaf composition in succulent and non-succulent species of contrasting semi-desert communities in south-eastern Spain

•Foliar [N] of perennials varied over a 5-fold range within each of three communities.•In two grasslands [N] was correlated with SLA and water concentration at saturation.•In succulent-rich vegetation on marl, SLA was correlated with [N] but not WCS.•[N] and [P] were correlated in the grasslands, but not in succulent-rich vegetation.•The N/P quotient means were 14 and 26 in grasslands and 21 in vegetation on marl.

Much attention has been paid to differences in leaf form and composition among vegetation types, but less to the frequently substantial variation within vegetation types. We focused on the extent to which correlations between variables are the same in both succulent-poor and succulent-rich vegetation in semi-arid SE Spain. Mean foliar [N] of perennials varied among species over a 5-fold range. Across species, [N] was positively correlated with specific leaf area (i.e., leaf area divided by dry mass; SLA) and with water concentration at saturation (WCS) in the grasslands, excluding the one succulent species. In succulent-rich vegetation on marl, SLA was correlated with [N] but not WCS, and there was a wedge-shaped relationship between [N] and WCS. Foliar [N] and [P] were positively correlated in the grasslands, but not in succulent-rich vegetation on marl. The N/P quotient varied from 8 to 29, with mean 14 in grassland on limestone and mean 26 in grassland on deep soil over gypsum. Our chief finding is that most correlations among SLA, WCS, [N] and [P] found in the non-succulent vegetation are not found in the succulent-rich vegetation. The results are discussed in relation to global patterns and the problems of defining succulence.