Conclusion
Woody seedlings across ecologically and morphologically wide-ranging species modulate the balance between the vapor (water loss) and liquid (water delivery) phase, via a convergent allometric covariation of xylem area and total stomatal area from entire individuals to individual leaves. Having a sufficient number of stomata relative to the minor vein xylem number is imperative for ensuring the force (generated by evaporation through stomata) of water delivery (through xylem vessels). The whole-leaf and whole-plant allometric relationships related to water transport and export in this study deepen our understanding of the vascular structure models and has broad implications for integrating xylem architecture and stomatal distribution across species.