This document describes the structure of the AusTraits compilation, corresponding to Version 0.9.0 of the dataset. Note that the information provided below is based on the information provided within the file definitions.yml.

As an on-going collaborative community resource we would appreciate your contribution on any of.

Reporting Errors: If you notice a possible error in AusTraits, please get in contact.
Refining documentation: We welcome additions and edits that make using the existing data or adding new data easier for the community.
Contributing new data: We gladly accept new data contributions to AusTraits. For full instructions on preparing data for inclusion in AusTraits, , please get in contact.

Elements of AusTraits

The compiled AusTraits database has the following main components:

austraits
├── traits
├── sites
├── methods
├── excluded_data
├── taxonomy
├── definitions
├── contributors
└── build_info

These elements include all the data and contextual information submitted with each contributed datasets. Each component is the above table is defined as follows:

traits

Description: A table containing measurements of plant traits.

Content:

key	value
dataset_id	Primary identifier for each study contributed into Austraits; most often these are scientific papers, books, or online resources. By default should be name of first author and year of publication, e.g. `Falster_2005`.
species_name	Name of species after aligning taxonomy with standard sources.
site_name	Name of site where species was sampled. Cross-references between similar columns in context and data.
observation_id	A unique identifier for the observation, useful for joining traits coming from the same observation_id. Observation ids are assigned automatically, based on `dataset_id` and row number in the file `data.csv`.
trait_name	Name of trait sampled. Allowable values specified in the table `traits`.
value	Value of trait sampled. In the master dataset these are all stored as characters, then converted to numeric later where appropriate.
unit	Units of the sampled trait value after aligning with Austraits standards.
value_type	A categorical variable describing the type of trait value recorded.
replicates	Number of replicate measurements that comprise the data points for the trait for each measurement. A numeric value (or range) is ideal and appropriate if the value type is a `mean`, `median`, `min` or `max`. For these value types, if replication is unknown the entry should be `unknown`. If the value type is `raw_value` the replicate value should be `1`. If the value type is `expert_mean`, `expert_min`, or `expert_max` the replicate value should be `.na`.
original_name	Taxonomic name given to species in the original data supplied by the authors

sites

Description: A table containing observations of site characteristics associated with information in data. Cross referencing between the two dataframes is possible using combinations of the variables dataset_id, site_name.

Content:

key	value
dataset_id	Primary identifier for each study contributed into Austraits; most often these are scientific papers, books, or online resources. By default should be name of first author and year of publication, e.g. `Falster_2005`.
site_name	Name of site where species was sampled. Cross-references between similar columns in context and data.
site_property	The site characteristic being recorded. Name should include units of measurement, e.g. `longitude (deg)`. Ideally we have at least these variables for each site - `longitude (deg)`, `latitude (deg)`, `description`.
value	Value of trait sampled. In the master dataset these are all stored as characters, then converted to numeric later where appropriate.

taxonomy

Description: A table containing details on species taxonomy associated with information in data. Cross referencing between the two dataframes is possible using the variable species_name. We have attempted to align species names with known taxonomic units, focussing primarily on the The Plant List (TPL) – a global working list of all known plant species. In addition we have tried to align these names with the Australian Plant Census (APC) and the Australian Plant Names Index (APNI).

Content:

key	value
species_name	Name of species after aligning taxonomy with standard sources.
family	Family of aligned species_name
authority	Authority for aligned species_name
TPL_ID	ID of species in the TPL
status	Status of species in TPL
APC_name	Name of species in APC
APC_ID	ID of species in the APC
APNI_ID	ID of species in the APNI

methods

Description: A table containing details on methods with which data were collected, including time frame and source.

Content:

key	value
dataset_id	Primary identifier for each study contributed into Austraits; most often these are scientific papers, books, or online resources. By default should be name of first author and year of publication, e.g. `Falster_2005`.
trait_name	Name of trait sampled. Allowable values specified in the table `traits`.
methods	A textual description of the methods used to collect the trait data. Whenever available, methods are taken near-verbatim from referenced souce. Methods can include descriptions such as ‘measured on herbarium specimens’,‘data from the literature’, or a detailed description of the field or lab methods used to collect the data.
year_collected_start	The year data collection commenced.
year_collected_end	The year data collection was completed.
description	A 1-2 sentence description of the purpose of the study.
collection_type	A field to indicate where the plants on which traits were measured were collected - in the `field`, `lab`, `glasshouse`, `herbarium specimens`, or `literature`. The latter should only be used when the data were sourced from the literature and the collection type is unknown.
sample_age_class	A field to indicate if the study was completed on `adult` or `juvenile` plants.
sampling_strategy	A written description of how study sites were selected and how study individuals were selected. When available, this information is lifted verbatim from a published manuscript. For herbarium studies, this field ideally indicates which herbaria were ‘sampled’ to measure a specific trait.
source_primary_citation	Citation for primary source. This detail is genearted from the primary source in the metadata.
source_primary_key	Citation key for primary source in `sources`. The key is typically of format Surname_year.
source_secondary_citation	Citation for secondary source. This detail is genearted from the secondary source in the metadata.
source_secondary_key	Citation key for secondary source in `sources`. The key is typically of format Surname_year.

excluded_data

Description: A table of data that did not pass quality test and so were excluded from the master dataset.

Content: Structure is identical to that presented in the data table, only with an extra column called error indicating why the record was excluded.

definitions

Description: A copy of the definitions for all tables and terms. Information included here was used to process data and generate any documentation for the study.

Content: A structured yaml file, represented as a list in R. See file config/definitions.yaml for more details.

contributors

Description: A table of containing details on conributors for each dataset.

Content:

key	value
dataset_id	Primary identifier for each study contributed into Austraits; most often these are scientific papers, books, or online resources. By default should be name of first author and year of publication, e.g. `Falster_2005`.
name	Person’s name
institution	Person’s institution
role	Person’s role in this study

sources

Description: Bibtex entries for all primary and secondary sources in the compilation.

build_info

Description: Description of the computing environment used to create this version of the dataset, including version number, git commit and R session_info.

Observation IDs

Each trait measurement has an associated observation_id. Observation IDs bind together related measurements within a dataset. For example, if multiple traits were collected on the same individual, the observation_id allows us to gather these together. For floras, which report a species averages, the observation_id is determined via the species name. Importantly, the observation_id allows translation between long (e.g. with variables trait_name and value) and wide (e.g. with traits as columns) formats.

Generally, observation_id has the format dataset_id_XX where XX is a unique number within each dataset.

For datasets that arrive in wide format we assume each row has a unique observation_id.

For datasets that arrive in long format, the observation_id is assigned based on a specified grouping variable. This variable can be specified in the metadata.yml file under the section variable_match. If missing, observation_id is assigned based on species_name.

Values and Value types

Each record in the table of trait data has an associated value and value_type. Traits are either numeric or categorical.

For traits with numerical values, the recorded value has been converted into standardised units and we have check that the value can be converted into a number and lies within the allowable range.

For categorical variables, we only include records that are defined in the definitions (see trait definitions below). Moreover, we use a format whereby

we use _ for multi-word terms, e.g. semi_deciduous
use a space for situations where there are two possible values for that trait, e.g. annual biennial for something which is either annual or biennial

Each trait measurement also an associated value_type, which gives A categorical variable describing the type of trait value recorded.. Possible value_types are:

key	value
raw_value	Value is a direct measurement.
site_min	Value is the minimum of measurements on multiple individuals of the species at a single site.
site_mean	Value is the mean or median of measurements on multiple individuals of the species at a single site.
site_max	Value is the maximum of measurements on multiple individuals of the species at a single site.
multisite_min	Value is the minimum of measurements on multiple individuals of the species across multiple sites.
multisite_mean	Value is the mean or median of measurements on multiple individuals of the species across multiple sites.
multisite_max	Value is the maximum of measurements on multiple individuals of the species across multiple sites.
expert_min	Value is the minimum observed for a species across its entire global range, as estimated by an expert based on their knowledge of the species. The value has not been measured directly. Data from herabarium studies that represent a species’ entire range fit in this category.
expert_mean	Value is the average observed for a species across its entire global range, as estimated by an expert based on their knowledge of the species. The value has not been measured directly. Data from herabarium studies that represent a species’ entire range fit in this category. Categorical variable values obtained from a reference book or identified by an expert also have this value type.
expert_max	Value is the maximum observed for a species across its entire global range, as estimated by an expert based on their knowledge of the species. The value has not been measured directly. Data from herabarium studies that represent a species’ entire range fit in this category.
experiment_min	Value is the minimum of measurements from an experimental study either in the field or a glasshouse.
experiment_mean	Value is the mean or median of measurements from an experimental study either in the field or a glasshouse.
experiment_max	Value is the maximum of measurements from an experimental study either in the field or a glasshouse.
unknown	Value type is not currently known.

Species taxonomy

Within AusTraits there are records for 19904 different species. A full list of all known species is available in the table taxonomy (see details above).

We have attempted to align species names with known taxonomic units, focussing primarily on the The Plant List (TPL) – a global working list of all known plant species. In addition we have tried to align these names with the Australian Plant Census (APC) and the Australian Plant Names Index (APNI). The APNI_ID can also be used to access relevant records for the species in the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA).

Links to species records in these systems can be accessed via the relevant IDs as in these examples.

The Plant List: http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-450649 where kew-450649 is the TPL_ID
Australian Plant Census: https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/node/apc/2908862 where 2908862 is the APC_ID
Australian Plant Names Index: http://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2899106 where 2899106 is the APNI_ID
Atlas of Living Australia: https://bie.ala.org.au/species/http://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2899106 where 2899106 is the APNI_ID.

Data sources

For each dataset in the compilation there is the option to list a primary and secondary citation. The primary citation The original study in which data were collected. while the secondary citation is A subsequent study where data were compiled or re-analysed and then made available.. these references are included in two places:

Within the table methods, where we provide a formatted version of each.
In the element sources, where we provided bibtex versions of all sources which can be imported into your reference library. The keys for these references are listed within the methods.

As noted above under citations, anyone using the compilation is expected to cite primary sources.

Trait definitions

Below is the standard definition for each trait in AusTraits (drawn from the the file definitions.yml). As described above in the section on Value types, traits are labelled as either numeric or categorical.

bark_mass_area

label: Bark mass per unit surface area of stem
description: Bark mass per unit surface area of stem
number of records: 27
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: g/cm2
allowable range: 0.01 - 1 g/cm2

bark_thickness

label: Bark thickness
description: Thickness of the bark of the stem
number of records: 154
number of studies: 2
type: numeric
units: mm
allowable range: 0.01 - 10 mm

branch_mass_fraction

label: Fraction of plant dry mass comprised of branch material
description: Fraction of plant dry mass comprised of branch material
number of records: 43
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: dimensionless
allowable range: 0.01 - 1 dimensionless

diaspore_mass

label: Mass of entire diaspore
description: Mass of seed including dispersal appendages
number of records: 249
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: mg
allowable range: 0.001 - 10000 mg

dispersal_appendage

label: Appendage of propagule which facilitates dispersal
description: Type of dispersal appendage present
number of records: 842
number of studies: 4
type: categorical
allowable values:
- aril: Fleshy outgrowth of a seed, that often attracts animals like birds or ants.
- awn_bristle: A slender, bristle-like projection, e.g. from the back or tip of the glumes and lemmas in some grasses and on the fruit of some other species.
- barbs: A rear-facing point, as in a fish hook that aid in seed and fruit dispersal. Includes “hooks”, a term used in Ranunculus.
- beak: Name of dispersal appendage in the genus Carex.
- bladdery_wings: Maybe referring to the wings present on the pollen grains of some conifers to aid in their dispersal by wind
- bract: When the bracts below the inflorescence are the dispersal appendage. For the family Poaceae “bract” refers to the glumes, the modified membranous bracts surrounding the spikelet of a grass.
- caruncle: A type of eliasome, term especially used in the family Euphorbiaceae; An outgrowth or appendage at or near the hilum of certain seeds that aids in dispersal. Includes “strophiole”.
- drupe: Fruit with membranous exocarp, fleshy mesocarp and hard endocarp
- elaiosome: Fleshy (often fatty) appendage on seeds that attracts ants
- fleshy_dehiscent_capsule: A fleshy fruit that splits open and releases seeds at maturity; fruit type
- fleshy_fruit: A fruit where part or all of the pericarp (fruit wall) is fleshy at maturity; fruit type
- fleshy_wings_capsule: A fruit whose capsule or wings are fleshy
- floral_parts: When a plant’s floral parts, the petals and/or sepals, are persistent and aid in seed and fruit dispersal.
- funicle: The stalk that joins the seed to the pod frame.
- hairs: When modified hairs aid in seed dispersal.
- indehiscent: Fruit that does not open at maturity in a pre-defined way, but instead relies on predation or decomposition to release the seeds;fruit type
- inflated_parts: When some part of the seed, fruit, or associated tissues is inflated, aiding in seed or fruit dispersal.
- none: When a fruit and associated tissues lack any dispersal appendages.
- paddles: unknown meaning; currently used only for “Brachyscome dentata”
- pappus: The pappus is the modified calyx, the part of an individual floret, that surrounds the base of the corolla tube in flower heads of the plant family Asteraceae.
- placental_endocarp: Exact dispersal mechanism unclear; currently used only for “Crowea saligna”
- receptacle: UNKNOWN
- samara: A winged achene, a type of fruit in which a flattened wing of fibrous, papery tissue develops from the ovary wall
- sarcotesta: Fleshy seed coat; term especially used for cycads; dispersal appendage?
- scales: When scales assist in seed or fruit dispersal.
- seed_airsac: Seed containing a sac of air
- seed_unilaterally_winged: A seed wing that arises from one side; dispersal appendage
- seed_wing_obsolete: Seed wing absent
- spines: Spines that aid in seed and fruit dispersal.
- strophiole_on_seed: Outgrowth of the hilum region which restricts water movement into and out of some seeds, especially legumes
- style: Cases where a species’ style, stigma or carpel are persistent and aid in seed or fruit dispersal.
- winged_fruit: A fruit where some tissue layers have become flattened and papery to function as wings; includes reference to a winged nut and winged achene (samara); fruit type
- wings: Referring to wing-like seed extensions that aid in wind dispersal
- woody_bract_scales: UNSURE; assume it refers to conifers, where woody bracts protect the seeds

dispersal_syndrome

label: Dispersal syndrome
description: Type of dispersal syndrome displayed by species, although the list includes many dispersal appendages and fruit types
number of records: 2006
number of studies: 17
type: categorical
allowable values:
- adhesion: Dispersal syndrome where fruit is transported by attaching itself to something, usually an animal; true dispersal syndrome; will overlap with exozoochory
- anemochory: Dispersal by wind; true dispersal syndrome
- animal_vector: Seeds are dispersed by an animal; true dispersal syndrome
- aril: Fleshy outgrowth of a seed, that often attracts animals like birds or ants; dispersal appendage
- ballistic: Seeds are launched away from the plant by explosion as soon as the seed capsule opens; true dispersal syndrome
- elaiosome: Fleshy (often fatty) appendage on seeds that attracts ants; dispersal appendage
- endozoochory: Diaspores that dispersed through ingestion by animals and are transported before dropping off; includes the term ingestion; true dispersal syndrome
- exarillate: A seed that lacks an aril; fruit type or dispersal appendage but not a dispersal syndrome
- exozoochory: When seeds are dispersed on the surface of an animal; will overlap significantly with the terms adhesion and animal_vector
- fleshy_fruit: A fruit where part or all of the pericarp (fruit wall) is fleshy at maturity; fruit type
- fleshy_wings_capsule: A fruit whose capsule or wings are fleshy
- hydrochory: Dispersal on the surface of water; see also the term water; true dispersal syndrome
- mobile: UNKNOWN
- myrmecochory: Dispersules with elaiosomes (specialised nutritious appendages) that make them attractive for capture, transport and use by ants or related insects; true dispersal syndrome
- samara: A winged achene, a type of fruit in which a flattened wing of fibrous, papery tissue develops from the ovary wall; fruit type; only used in TMAG_2009 for Allocasuarina species - maybe change to wind
- unassisted: Seeds are dispersed without assistance; true dispersal syndrome
- undefined: UNKNOWN
- vertebrate: Seeds are dispersed by a vertebrate species; true dispersal syndrome
- water: Seeds dispersal depends in some way on water
- wind: Seeds are dispersed by wind; true dispersal syndrome

fire_response

label: Resprouts or is killed by fire
description: Distinguishes between plants that are killed by fire and resprout following fire
number of records: 56
number of studies: 3
type: categorical
allowable values:
- fire_killed: Plants killed by hot fires
- resprouts: Plants resprout from underground storage organ following fire

flower_colour

label: Flower colour
description: Flower colour, with six possible outcomes
number of records: 8633
number of studies: 1
type: categorical
allowable values:
- blue_purple: blue or purple
- green: green flower
- pink: pink flower
- red_brown: red or brown flower
- white_cream: white or cream flower
- yellow_orange: yellow orange flower

flowering_time

label: Range of flowering period
description: Months during which species is flowering; keyed as a sequences of 12 0s (not flowering) and 1s (flowering) starting with January
number of records: 16631
number of studies: 25
type: character
allowable values:
- **:

fruit_width

label: Fruit diameter
description: The longest width dimension of a fruit; orthogonal to the length
number of records: 156
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: mm
allowable range: 1 - 100 mm

fruit_length

label: Fruit length
description: Longest fruit dimension or if clearly recognizable the length from its base to its apex
number of records: 272
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: mm
allowable range: 1 - 1000 mm

fruit_type

label: Fruit type
description: Fruit types
number of records: 4484
number of studies: 2
type: categorical
allowable values:
- achene: A small, dry, indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a thin wall
- anthocarp_nut: A false fruit consisting of the true fruit and the base of the floral whorls; instance where the true fruit is a nut
- anthocarp_viscid: UNCERTAIN what the viscid refers to (See anthocarp above)
- berry: Fleshy, indehiscent fruit in which the seeds are generally more than 1 and are not encased in a stone
- berry_inf: UNCERTAIN how this differs from general definition for berry
- capsule: Dry fruit from compound pistil, nearly always dehiscent
- capsule_explosive: Dry fruit from compound pistil, that releases its seeds in an explosive manner
- capsule_aril: Dry fruit from compound pistil, with a fleshy outgrowth (aril) to attract pollinators
- capsule_wing: Dry fruit from compound pistil, with a wing for dispersal by wind
- cypsela: same as achene
- drupe: Fleshy or pulpy, indehiscent, superficially berry-like fruit in which 1 seed is encased in a stone or more than 1 seed is encased in an equal number of free or variously fused stones
- drupe_fibrous: Fibrous or dry drupe; indehiscent, superficially berry-like fruit in which 1 seed is encased in a stone or more than 1 seed is encased in an equal number of free or variously fused stones
- follicle: Dry fruit from a simple pistil, dehiscent on generally only one side, along a single suture
- legume: Fruits from a legume; A dry or somewhat fleshy, 1- to many-seeded fruit from a simple pistil, typically dehiscent longitudinally along two sutures and splitting into halves that remain joined at the base
- legume_indehiscent: Fruits from a legume; a legume (see above) that is indehiscent
- nut: Mostly dry, sometimes fleshy or pulpy, usually indehiscent fruit in which a single seed is encased in a hard shell
- nut_winged: A nut that is enclosed in a winglike bract
- nutlet: Small, dry nut or nut-like fruit, usually several of which are produced by a single flower; especially an achene
- pod: A legume or superficially similar fruit
- samara: A winged achene, a type of fruit in which a flattened wing of fibrous, papery tissue develops from the ovary wall
- schizocarp: A dry fruit which splits into individual carpels
- syconium: A fleshy hollow receptacle that develops into a multiple fruit, as in the fig
- syncarp: A multiple fruit consisting of several united fruits, originating from several originally free carpels, usually fleshy
- utricle: Small, bladderlike, thin-walled indehiscent fruit
- utricle_fleshy: Small, bladderlike, thin-walled indehiscent fruit, that is partially fleshy
- utricle_spiny: Small, bladderlike, thin-walled indehiscent fruit, that is spiny

fruit_type_botany

label: Fruit type (fleshy / dry)
description: Binary variable, dividing fruits into ‘dry’ versus ‘fleshy’ based on their appearance
number of records: 4044
number of studies: 1
type: categorical
allowable values:
- dry: fruit whose appearance is dry
- fleshy: fruit whose appearance is fleshy

fruit_type_function

label: Fruit type (fleshy / dry)
description: Binary variable, dividing fruits into ‘dry’ versus ‘fleshy’ based on their function
number of records: 4126
number of studies: 2
type: categorical
allowable values:
- dry: fruit that are functionally dry
- fleshy: fruit that are functionally fleshy

fruiting_time

label: Plant reproductive phenology timing (fruiting)
description: Months during which species is fruiting; keyed as a sequences of 12 0s (not flowering) and 1s (flowering) starting with January
number of records: 1022
number of studies: 3
type: character
allowable values:
- **:

genome_size

label: Plant genome size
description: Mass of the plant’s genome
number of records: 92
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: pg
allowable range: 1 - 10 pg

glaucous

label: Glaucous
description: Variable indicating if a plant’s leaves are glaucous or not
number of records: 5
number of studies: 1
type: categorical
allowable values:
- 0: not glaucous
- 1: glaucous

growth_habit

label: Growth habit (data actually describes plant vegetative reproduction capacity)
description: Variable that defines a combination of growth habit and plant vegetative reproductive potential
number of records: 74
number of studies: 1
type: categorical
allowable values:
- prostrate: Plants that lie flat on the ground
- rhizomatous: Plants having modified underground stems
- stoloniferous: Plants having horizontal branches from the base of the plant that produce new plants from buds at its tip or nodes
- tufted: A dense clump attached at the base or growing close together; can refer to grasses, shrubs, or trees

leaf_area

label: Leaf area
description: Area of the leaf surface
number of records: 11581
number of studies: 33
type: numeric
units: mm2
allowable range: 0.1 - 1e+07 mm2

leaf_area_per_sapwood_area

label: Leaf area per unit sapwood area
description: Ratio of leaf area to sapwood area
number of records: 42
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: m2/m2
allowable range: 100 - 1e+05 m2/m2

leaf_area_ratio

label: Leaf area per unit plant dry mass
description: Ratio of leaf area to total plant dry mass
number of records: 69
number of studies: 2
type: numeric
units: mm2/mg
allowable range: 1 - 100 mm2/mg

leaf_arrangement

label: Arrangement of leaves
description: Describes leaf arrangement on the stem
number of records: 5983
number of studies: 1
type: categorical
allowable values:
- alternate: A single leaf is attached at each stem node
- opposite: Leaves attach to the stem in pairs
- reduced_to_scales: Plant lacks true leaves. Leaves are instead small scales
- whorled_tufted_crowded: Three or more leaves are attached at each node

leaf_C_per_dry_mass

label: Leaf carbon (C) content per unit leaf dry mass
description: Leaf carbon (C) content per unit leaf dry mass
number of records: 438
number of studies: 3
type: numeric
units: mg/g
allowable range: 100 - 1000 mg/g

leaf_cell_wall_fraction

label: Leaf cell wall fraction (fraction of cell wall material recovered from total leaf biomass)
description: Fraction of total leaf biomass that is cell wall material
number of records: 29
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: dimensionless
allowable range: 0.1 - 1 dimensionless

leaf_cell_wall_N

label: Leaf cell wall nitrogen concentration
description: Proportion of leaf cell wall material that is nitrogen
number of records: 29
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: mmol/g
allowable range: 0.1 - 10 mmol/g

leaf_cell_wall_N_fraction

label: Leaf cell wall nitrogen fraction
description: Proportion of all N in leaves that is found in the leaf cell walls
number of records: 29
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: dimensionless
allowable range: 0.01 - 1 dimensionless

leaf_chlorophyll_per_dry_mass

label: Leaf chlorophyll content per unit leaf dry mass
description: Leaf chlorophyll content per unit leaf dry mass
number of records: 23
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: umol/g
allowable range: 1 - 10 umol/g

leaf_CN_ratio

label: Leaf carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio
description: Leaf carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio
number of records: 56
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: g/g
allowable range: 10 - 1000 g/g

leaf_compoundness

label: Leaf compoundness
description: Indicates whether or not a leaf is compound; different ‘simple’ terminology used by different studies
number of records: 16665
number of studies: 17
type: categorical
allowable values:
- compound: A leaf that is divided into multiple leaflets
- leafless: A stem that lacks leaves
- lobed: A leaf that is lobed but not compound
- palmate: A leaf that is palmately compound
- simple: A leaf with a single undivided blade

leaf_dark_respiration_per_area

label: Leaf respiration rate per unit leaf area
description: Leaf respiration rate per unit leaf area
number of records: 116
number of studies: 2
type: numeric
units: umolCO2/m2/s
allowable range: 1e-05 - 10000 umolCO2/m2/s

leaf_dark_respiration_per_dry_mass

label: Leaf respiration rate per unit leaf dry mass
description: Leaf respiration rate per unit leaf dry mass
number of records: 128
number of studies: 2
type: numeric
units: umolCO2/g/s
allowable range: 1e-05 - 10000 umolCO2/g/s

leaf_delta13C

label: Leaf carbon (C) isotope signature (delta 13C)
description: Leaf carbon stable isotope signature
number of records: 814
number of studies: 5
type: numeric
units: per mille
allowable range: -50 - 0 per mille

leaf_delta15N

label: Leaf nitrogen (N) isotope signature (delta 15N)
description: Leaf nitrogen stable isotope signature
number of records: 563
number of studies: 3
type: numeric
units: per mille
allowable range: -100 - 100 per mille

leaf_dry_mass

label: Leaf dry mass
description: Leaf dry mass
number of records: 1568
number of studies: 4
type: numeric
units: mg
allowable range: 0.1 - 10000 mg

leaf_dry_matter_content

label: Leaf dry mass per unit leaf fresh mass (Leaf dry matter content, LDMC)
description: Leaf dry mass per unit leaf fresh mass
number of records: 262
number of studies: 6
type: numeric
units: g/g
allowable range: 0.001 - 10 g/g

leaf_elastic_modulus

label: Leaf elastic modulus
description: The ratio of the change in cell turgor relative to the change in cell volume
number of records: 111
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: mmol/m2/s
allowable range: 0.1 - 100 mmol/m2/s

leaf_fracture_force

label: Leaf force of fracture
description: Measures of leaf mechanical resistant; how much force is required to shear, punch or rip a leaf
number of records: 56
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: N
allowable range: 0.01 - 10 N

leaf_K_per_area

label: Leaf potassium (K) content per unit leaf area
description: Leaf potassium (K) content per unit leaf area
number of records: 69
number of studies: 2
type: numeric
units: g/m2
allowable range: 0.1 - 10 g/m2

leaf_K_per_dry_mass

label: Leaf potassium (K) content per unit leaf dry mass
description: Leaf potassium (K) content per unit leaf dry mass
number of records: 78
number of studies: 3
type: numeric
units: mg/g
allowable range: 0.1 - 100 mg/g

leaf_length

label: Leaf length
description: Length of the leaf, including petiole and rachis in compound leaves
number of records: 35297
number of studies: 29
type: numeric
units: mm
allowable range: 0.1 - 1e+05 mm

leaf_lifespan

label: Leaf lifespan (longevity)
description: Leaf lifespan (longevity)
number of records: 61
number of studies: 3
type: numeric
units: month
allowable range: 1 - 1000 month

leaf_margin

label: Leaf margin
description: Description of leaf margin are lobed versus entire. Trait values could be expanded to include toothed as a separate category
number of records: 10189
number of studies: 4
type: categorical
allowable values:
- entire: Leaf margin without lobes or toothed
- lobed: Leaf margin that is either lobed or toothed

leaf_mass_fraction

label: Leaf mass fraction
description: Ratio of leaf dry mass to total plant dry mass
number of records: 69
number of studies: 2
type: numeric
units: g/g
allowable range: 0.1 - 1 g/g

leaf_N_per_area

label: Leaf nitrogen (N) content per unit leaf area
description: Leaf nitrogen (N) content per unit leaf area
number of records: 504
number of studies: 11
type: numeric
units: g/m2
allowable range: 0.2 - 10 g/m2

leaf_N_per_dry_mass

label: Leaf nitrogen (N) content per unit leaf dry mass
description: Leaf nitrogen (N) content per unit leaf dry mass
number of records: 1538
number of studies: 24
type: numeric
units: mg/g
allowable range: 0.1 - 100 mg/g

leaf_P_per_area

label: Leaf phosphorus (P) content per unit leaf area
description: Leaf phosphorus (P) content per unit leaf area
number of records: 418
number of studies: 8
type: numeric
units: g/m2
allowable range: 0.005 - 1 g/m2

leaf_P_per_dry_mass

label: Leaf phosphorus (P) content per unit leaf dry mass
description: Leaf phosphorus (P) content per unit leaf dry mass
number of records: 961
number of studies: 14
type: numeric
units: mg/g
allowable range: 0.03 - 8 mg/g

leaf_phenology

label: Leaf phenology type (evergreen, deciduous, semideciduous)
description: Variable indicating whether a plant has deciduous versus evergreen leaves; different types of deciduousness included as trait values
number of records: 8310
number of studies: 19
type: categorical
allowable values:
- deciduous: Plant where all leaves are shed yearly, either due to drought or cold
- evergreen: Plant which retains its leaves year-round
- facultative_drought_deciduous: Plant that sometimes sheds its years in response to drought
- semi_deciduous: Plant that sheds its years each year for just a very brief period of time

leaf_photosynthetic_nitrogen_use_efficiency

label: Leaf photosynthesis rate per unit leaf nitrogen (N) content (photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency, PNUE)
description: Ratio of photosynthesis (CO2 assimilation rate) to leaf nitrogen content
number of records: 52
number of studies: 2
type: numeric
units: umolCO2/s/gN
allowable range: 1 - 10 umolCO2/s/gN

leaf_photosynthetic_water_use_efficiency

label: Leaf photosynthesis rate per unit leaf transpiration (water use efficiency, WUE)
description: Ratio of photosynthesis (CO2 assimilation rate) to leaf transpiration (water loss)
number of records: 52
number of studies: 2
type: numeric
units: umolCO2/umolH2O
allowable range: 0.01 - 1 umolCO2/umolH2O

leaf_saturated_water_content_per_mass

label: Water content per unit mass of saturated leaf
description: Ratio of water in a saturated leaf (maximal water holding capacity at full turgidity) to leaf dry mass
number of records: 24
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: g/g
allowable range: 0.1 - 10 g/g

leaf_shape

label: Leaf shape
description: Leaf shape
number of records: 2940
number of studies: 9
type: categorical
allowable values:
- article: Leaf comprised of jointed segments, as in family Casuarinaceae
- branchlets_articles: Branches with article leaves, as in family Casuarinaceae
- circular: Circular
- cladode: A flattened stem or internode that resembles and functions as a leaf
- cuneate: Triangular, wedge-shaped, stem attaches to point
- deltoid: Triangular, stem attaches to side
- dimidate: A leaf in which only one side is developed
- elliptical: Oval shaped, without a distinct point
- falcate: Sickle-shaped
- filiform: Thread-like or filament-shaped
- hastate: Spear-shaped - pointed, with barbs, shaped like a spear point, with flaring pointed lobes at the base
- lanceolate: Long, wider in the middle, shaped like a lance tip
- linear: Long and very narrow like a blade of grass
- linear_oblanceolate: A particularly long, narrow oblanceolate leaf
- lobed: Being divided by clefts, may be pinnately lobed or palmately lobed
- lorate: Having the form of a strap
- needle: Needle-shaped
- obcordate: Heart-shaped, stem attaches at the tapering end
- oblanceolate: Much longer than wide and with the widest portion near the tip, reversed lanceolate
- oblate: An elongate leaf that is wider in the middle than at the two ends
- oblong: Having an elongated form with slightly parallel sides, roughly rectangular
- obovate: Teardrop-shaped, stem attaches to the tapering end; reversed ovate
- obovoid: A 3-dimensional shape; teardrop-shaped, stem attaches to the tapering end
- orbicular: Circular
- ovate: Oval, egg-shaped, with a tapering point and the widest portion near the petiole
- palm: UNCERTAIN if this refers to a leaf from a palm (Araceeae) or a palmately lobed leaf
- palmately_lobed: Palm-shaped, i.e., with lobes or leaflets stemming from the leaf base
- peltate: A round leaf where the petiole attaches near the center
- reniform: Shaped like a kidney - an oval with an inward curve on one side
- rhomboidal: Diamond-shaped
- spathulate: Spoon-shaped; having a broad flat end which tapers to the base
- terete: Circular in cross-section; more or less cylindrical without grooves or ridges
- triangular: Triangular leaf where stem attaches to a side; similar to deltoid

leaf_specific_conductivity

label: Leaf area-specific conductivity / leaf specific conductivity
description: The ratio of hydraulic conductance of a segment to leaf area
number of records: 38
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: 10^4 x kg/m/s/MPa
allowable range: 0.1 - 100 10^4 x kg/m/s/MPa

leaf_thickness

label: Leaf thickness
description: Thickness of the leaf lamina
number of records: 226
number of studies: 5
type: numeric
units: mm
allowable range: 0.1 - 10 mm

leaf_toughness

label: Leaf toughness
description: The work (energy) required to fracture a leaf by tearing, shearing or punching
number of records: 56
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: N/m
allowable range: 100 - 10000 N/m

leaf_type

label: Leaf type
description: Broad definitions of leaf type
number of records: 117
number of studies: 6
type: categorical
allowable values:
- article: Leaf comprised of jointed segments
- broadleaf: Flat leaf lamina
- needle: Needle or awl-shaped leaf

leaf_water_content_per_area

label: Leaf water content per unit area
description: The ratio of the mass of water in a leaf relative to its surface area
number of records: 98
number of studies: 3
type: numeric
units: g/m2
allowable range: 10 - 1000 g/m2

leaf_water_content_per_mass

label: Leaf water content per unit mass
description: The ratio of the mass of water in a leaf relative to its dry mass
number of records: 98
number of studies: 3
type: numeric
units: g/g
allowable range: 0.001 - 100 g/g

leaf_width

label: Leaf width
description: The longest width axis of a leaf; orthogonal to its length
number of records: 34220
number of studies: 30
type: numeric
units: mm
allowable range: 0.01 - 1e+05 mm

life_history

label: Life history
description: Categorical description of plant’s life history
number of records: 21926
number of studies: 35
type: categorical
allowable values:
- annual: Plant that lives for only a single year
- biennial: Plant with a two-year lifespan
- ephemeral: Very short-lived plant; the lifespan is usually only a few months
- indefinite: Very long-lived plant, whose exact lifespan is unknown. Category also includes plants that reproduce vegetatively, such that their ‘genetic’ lifespan is indefinite
- long_lived: Very long-lived plant, whose exact lifespan is unknown
- perennial: Plant that lives for 3 or more growing seasons
- short_lived: Unclear term that only suggests a plant is not long-lived - could be ephemeral, annual or biennial

lifespan

label: Life span (years)
description: Broad categories of plant life span, in years
number of records: 230
number of studies: 1
type: categorical
allowable values:
- <1: Plant that lives less than 1 year
- <5: Plant that lives less than 5 years
- <10: Plant that lives less than 10 years
- <20: Plant that lives less than 20 years
- <50: Plant that lives less than 50 years
- <100: Plant that lives less than 100 years
- >100: Plant that lives more than 100 years
- ?: Plant with unknown lifespan

nitrogen_fixing

label: Plant nitrogen fixation capacity
description: Binary variable describing whether or not a plant hosts a nitrogen-fixing bacteria
number of records: 744
number of studies: 10
type: categorical
allowable values:
- 0: plant does not exhibit nitrogen-fixation
- 1: plant does exhibit nitrogen-fixation

photosynthetic_pathway

label: Photosynthetic pathway
description: Type of photosynthetic pathway displayed by plants
number of records: 457
number of studies: 8
type: categorical
allowable values:
- c3: Plant using the ‘standard’ photosynthetic pathway, where a 3-carbon compound is produced after the first stage in the photosynthetic pathway
- c4: Plants in which the photosynthetic light-dependent reactions and the Calvin cycle are physically separated to reduce photo respiration
- cam: Plants which display crassulacean acid metabolism

photosynthetic_rate_per_area

label: Leaf photosynthesis rate per unit leaf area
description: Maximum rate at which a plant consumes carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, normalised to leaf area
number of records: 217
number of studies: 6
type: numeric
units: umolCO2/m2/s
allowable range: 0.5 - 40 umolCO2/m2/s

photosynthetic_rate_per_dry_mass

label: Leaf photosynthesis rate per unit leaf dry mass
description: Maximum rate at which a plant consumes carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, normalised to leaf dry mass
number of records: 214
number of studies: 6
type: numeric
units: umolCO2/g/s
allowable range: 0.01 - 1 umolCO2/g/s

plant_growth_form

label: Plant Growth Form
description: Different growth forms displayed by plants, including both standard plant growth form descriptors (tree, shrub, etc.) and specific plant characteristics (i.e. patristic)
number of records: 32103
number of studies: 46
type: categorical
allowable values:
- aquatic: Grows primarily in water
- climber: Plant that climbs up another plant’s trunk, branches, rather than being able to support itself
- climber_tree: Tree that climbs up another plant
- climber_herb: Herbaceous plant that climbs up another plant
- climber_shrub: Shrubby plant that climbs up another plant
- epiphyte: Plant that grows on top of another plant
- fern: A group of vascular plants that reproduce via spores
- geophyte: A perennial plant with an underground food storage organ, such as a bulb, tuber, corm, or rhizome
- graminoid: Herbaceous plants with a grass-like morphology
- herb: A seed-bearing plant which does not have a woody stem and dies down to the ground after flowering
- palm: Flowering plants in the family Arecaceae, most with large, compound evergreen leaves referred to as fronds
- parasite: A plant that derives some or all of its nutritional requirements from another living plant
- prostrate: Plant that lies flat against the ground
- subshrub: A dwarf shrub, especially one that is only woody at the base
- succulent: A plant where some parts are thick and fleshy and usually involved in water storage
- shrub: A woody plant that has multiple stems arising at or near ground level
- treelet: A woody plant that is intermediate between a shrub and a tree
- tree: A tall, woody, perennial plant, usually with a single main trunk

plant_height

label: Plant height
description: Vegetative plant height
number of records: 47171
number of studies: 50
type: numeric
units: m
allowable range: 0.001 - 130 m

regen_strategy

label: Regeneration strategy
description: Different regeneration strategies displayed by plants. Trait values include both generic terms (i.e. vegetative) and quite specific ones (i.e. wood rootstock)
number of records: 704
number of studies: 3
type: categorical
allowable values:
- fleshy_organ: Plants that use fleshy, generally underground organs to regenerate; examples include corms, tubers, bulbs, and rhizomes
- not_vegetative: Plant that regenerate only by seed
- seed: Plant that regenerate only by seed
- vegetative: Generic term including all plants that can regenerate through the growth and division of vegetative material, not just from seed; examples include runners, rhizomes, and bulbs
- woody_rootstock: Plant that regenerate by resprouting from wood rootstock following a disturbance

root_structure

label: Root structure
description: Specific specialized types of root structures and root symbioses
number of records: 183
number of studies: 1
type: categorical
allowable values:
- arbuscular_mycorrhizal: Symbiosis in which the mycorrhizal fungi does penetrate the cortex cells of the plant roots and its hyphae form arbuscules and vesicles inside the plant root
- ectomycorrhizal: Symbiosis in which the mycorrhizal fungi does not penetrate the cortex cells of the plant roots
- ericoid_mycorrhizal: A form of arbuscular mycorrhizal relationship only found on plants in the order Ericales. The fungi’s hyphae penetrate the plant root but do not form arbuscules
- orchid_mycorrhizal: A mycorrhizal relationship specific to orchid species, and for most orchids, essential for seedlings to establish
- non_mycorrhizal: Plants lacking a mycorrhizal symbiont
- proteoid_root: Also known as cluster roots, are plant roots that form clusters of closely spaced short lateral rootlets and aid in nutrient upake in nutrient-poor soils; Common in members of the family Proteaceae, but present in other families as well

root_wood_density

label: Root wood density
description: For root wood, the ratio of mass to volume, yielding density
number of records: 62
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: mg/mm3
allowable range: 0.1 - 10 mg/mm3

sapwood_specific_conductivity

label: Sapwood specific conductivity / stem specific conductivity
description: Describes the flow rate of water (kg/s) along a stem for a given drop in pressure (1/MPa), extremenormalised to the length of the segment (1/m)
number of records: 121
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: kg/m/s/MPa
allowable range: 0.05 - 50 kg/m/s/MPa

seed_breadth

label: Seed breadth
description: The shorter width axis of a seed; orthogonal to its length.
number of records: 1179
number of studies: 13
type: numeric
units: mm
allowable range: 0.01 - 100 mm

seed_length

label: Seed length
description: Longest seed dimension
number of records: 11481
number of studies: 25
type: numeric
units: mm
allowable range: 0.01 - 1000 mm

seed_mass

label: Seed dry mass
description: Seed carbon dry mass
number of records: 15249
number of studies: 25
type: numeric
units: mg
allowable range: 1e-04 - 1e+05 mg

seed_mass_reserve

label: Seed dry mass reserve
description: Energy reserves stored in seeds that are mobilized at the time of germination; on a carbon dry mass basis
number of records: 45
number of studies: 2
type: numeric
units: mg
allowable range: 0.1 - 1000 mg

seed_P_concentration

label: Seed phosphorus concentration
description: Seed phosphorus concentration on a weight basis
number of records: 9
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: mg/g
allowable range: 1 - 100 mg/g

seed_shape

label: Seed shape
description: Possible seed shapes. Note that some terms currently used refer to 2-dimensional shapes, not 3-dimensional shapes.
number of records: 1898
number of studies: 6
type: categorical
allowable values:
- angular: Doesn’t refer to a specific shape, but simply that instead of being smoothly rounded, it is angular
- broadly_obovoid: A 3-dimensional shape; Like obovoid, but particularly broad in the middle
- circular: Both width dimensions are similar; rounded
- comma_shaped: Seed shaped liked a comma; includes the 2-dimensional term falcate
- compressed_ellipsoid: Like ellipsoid, but a flatter 3-dimensional shape
- compressed_obovoid: Like obovoid, but a flatter 3-dimensional shape
- conical: A 3-dimensional shape; shaped like a cone; the opposite of turbinate.
- cordiform: A 3-dimensional shape; heart-shaped
- cylindrical: A 3-dimensional shape; Shaped like a cylinder; includes “terete-shaped”, which is defined as circular in cross-section
- discoidal: A 3-dimensional shape; Resembling a disc, with two convex faces; similar to plano-convex and lenticular, flatter
- ellipsoid: A 3-dimensional shape; Elliptic in outline and with a length:breadth ratio between 3:2 and 2:1
- elliptical: SHOULD BE ELLIPSOID?; A 2-dimensional shape; Elliptic in outline and with a length:breadth ratio between 3:2 and 2:1
- flat: Suggests a quite flattened seed, but no information about shape
- fusiform: A 2-dimensional shape; spindle-shaped, cigar-shaped, circular in cross-section and tapering at both ends
- globose: Same as globular
- globular: Nearly spherical
- lachrimiform: A 3-dimensional shape; Tear-shaped
- lanceolate: A 2-dimensional shape; much longer than wide, with the widest point below the middle; in reference to a seed, assume a rounded 2-D shape
- lenticular: A 3-dimensional shape; Shaped like a biconvex lens. Similar to plano-convex??
- muricate: A 2 or 3-dimensional shape; Has numerous short hard outgrowths
- obclavate: A 2 or 3-dimensional shape; Slender, broadening towards the base; club-shaped, with the thickened part at the base
- oblong: A 2-dimensional shape; rectangular with a length:breadth ratio between 3:2 and 2:1
- obovate: A 2-dimensional shape; similar to ovate, but attached at the narrower end and with a length:breadth ratio between 3:2 and 2:1
- obovoid: A 3-dimensional shape; similar to ovoid, but attached at the narrower end and with a length:breadth ratio between 3:2 and 2:1
- orbicular: A 2 or 3-dimensional shape; Fairly flat, but round in 2-dimensional outline
- ovate: A 2-dimensional shape; Egg-shaped (i.e., widest below the middle)
- ovoid: A 3-dimensional shape; Egg-shaped (i.e., widest below the middle)
- pea_shape: Assume same as spherical
- plano_convex: A 3-dimensional shape; fairly flat, but with slightly raised, convex faces
- pyramidal: A 3-dimensional shape; Resembling a pyramid
- pyriform: A 3-dimensional shape; Resembling a pear, attached at the broader end
- rectangular: A 3-dimensional shape; Resembling a rectangular-prism
- reniform: A 2 or 3-dimensional shape; Having a circular or roughly circular shape with a notch, like a kidney
- rhombic: A 2-dimensional shape; diamond shaped in outline with the broadest axis in the middle and with a length:breadth ratio between 3:2 and 2:1
- round: Assume same as spherical
- samara: Aa type of fruit in which a flattened wing of fibrous, papery tissue develops from the ovary wall. Not truly a shape.
- sectoroid: A 3-dimension shape; shaped like an orange segment
- segment_shaped: UNCERTAIN; Assume the outline is a flattened rectangular prism
- semicircular: Semi-circular in cross-section
- spherical: A 3-dimensional shape; round with all dimensions approximately equal
- spheroidal: A 3-dimensional shape; Nearly, but imperfectly spherical
- square: A 3-dimensional shape; With four sides perpendicular to the base and resembling a square prism.
- subcircular: Nearly or almost circular in shape
- subcylindrical: Nearly or almost cylindrical in shape
- subglobular: Nearly or almost globular in shape
- suborbicular: Nearly or almost orbicular in shape
- subtriangular: Nearly or almost triangular in shape
- triangular: A 3-dimensional shape; With three sides and broadest below the middle
- turbinate: A 3-dimensional shape; Top shaped; inversely conical
- wedge_shaped: A 2 or 3-dimensional shape; Tapers to a point at one end; includes the 2-D classificatiion “cuneate” and possibly plants that are more conical in outline

seed_volume

label: Seed volume
description: Volume of a seed
number of records: 519
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: mm3
allowable range: 0.001 - 1e+05 mm3

seed_width

label: Seed width
description: The longest width dimension of a seed; orthogonal to the length
number of records: 7291
number of studies: 23
type: numeric
units: mm
allowable range: 0.01 - 100 mm

serotiny

label: Serotiny
description: When a fruit or cone only releases its seeds following an environmental trigger, often fire
number of records: 243
number of studies: 2
type: categorical
allowable values:
- not_serotinous: Plant does NOT display serotiny
- serotinous: Plant does display serotiny
- serotiny_low: Plant displays a low level of serotiny
- serotiny_moderate: Plant displays a moderate level of serotiny

specific_leaf_area

label: Leaf area per unit leaf dry mass (specific leaf area, SLA)
description: Leaf area per unit leaf dry mass; SLA
number of records: 18687
number of studies: 49
type: numeric
units: mm2/mg
allowable range: 0.5 - 500 mm2/mg

stem_cross_section_area

label: Stem cross-sectional area
description: Cross-sectional area of the stem
number of records: 0
number of studies: 0
type: numeric
units: mm2
allowable range: 1 - 1000 mm2

stem_cross_section_area_no_bark

label: Stem cross-sectional area without bark
description: Cross-sectional area of the stem once bark is removed
number of records: 0
number of studies: 0
type: numeric
units: mm2
allowable range: 1 - 1000 mm2

stomatal_conductance_per_area

label: Stomatal conductance per unit leaf area
description: Rate of water loss through stomata, per unit leaf area
number of records: 52
number of studies: 2
type: numeric
units: mmolH2O/m2/s
allowable range: 10 - 1e+06 mmolH2O/m2/s

storage_organ

label: Storage organ types
description: Variable, defining whether a storage organ is present and types of storage organs
number of records: 313
number of studies: 3
type: categorical
allowable values:
- lignotuber: Plant contains an underground lignotuber
- rhizome: Plant contains a rhizome
- no_storage_organ: No storage organ present
- storage_organ: Storage organ present, but type is unknown
- unknown: Assume this trait value means it is unknown if a storage organ is present, not that the type is unknown

water_use_efficiency

label: Water use efficiency
description: Rate of carbon dioxide uptake relative to water loss, per unit leaf area
number of records: 111
number of studies: 1
type: numeric
units: mmolCO2/molH2O/m2/s
allowable range: 1 - 10 mmolCO2/molH2O/m2/s

wood_density

label: Stem dry mass per unit fresh stem volume
description: Stem dry mass per unit stem fresh volume (stem specific density or SSD or wood density)
number of records: 4584
number of studies: 34
type: numeric
units: mg/mm3
allowable range: 0.1 - 1.3 mg/mm3

woodiness

label: Woodiness
description: A plant’s degree of lignification in stems
number of records: 6575
number of studies: 5
type: categorical
allowable values:
- herbaceous: Plant with non-lignified stems
- semi_woody: Plant with partially lignified stems
- woody: Plant that produces secondary xylem, have lignin

Dictionary for AusTraits data compilation - a curated plant trait database for the Australian flora

Daniel Falster

Elements of AusTraits

traits

sites

taxonomy

methods

excluded_data

definitions

contributors

sources

build_info

Observation IDs

Values and Value types

Species taxonomy

Data sources

Trait definitions

bark_mass_area

bark_thickness

branch_mass_fraction

diaspore_mass

dispersal_appendage

dispersal_syndrome

fire_response

flower_colour

flowering_time

fruit_width

fruit_length

fruit_type

fruit_type_botany

fruit_type_function

fruiting_time

genome_size

glaucous

growth_habit

leaf_area

leaf_area_per_sapwood_area

leaf_area_ratio

leaf_arrangement

leaf_C_per_dry_mass

leaf_cell_wall_fraction

leaf_cell_wall_N

leaf_cell_wall_N_fraction

leaf_chlorophyll_per_dry_mass

leaf_CN_ratio

leaf_compoundness

leaf_dark_respiration_per_area

leaf_dark_respiration_per_dry_mass

leaf_delta13C

leaf_delta15N

leaf_dry_mass

leaf_dry_matter_content

leaf_elastic_modulus

leaf_fracture_force

leaf_K_per_area

leaf_K_per_dry_mass

leaf_length

leaf_lifespan

leaf_margin

leaf_mass_fraction

leaf_N_per_area

leaf_N_per_dry_mass

leaf_P_per_area

leaf_P_per_dry_mass

leaf_phenology

leaf_photosynthetic_nitrogen_use_efficiency

leaf_photosynthetic_water_use_efficiency

leaf_saturated_water_content_per_mass

leaf_shape

leaf_specific_conductivity

leaf_thickness

leaf_toughness

leaf_type

leaf_water_content_per_area

leaf_water_content_per_mass

leaf_width

life_history

lifespan

nitrogen_fixing

photosynthetic_pathway

Dictionary for `AusTraits` data compilation - a curated plant trait database for the Australian flora