Documented Traits

The Literature Review module currently contains information on over 100 plant traits for more than 1400 species. New traits are added regularly or standardized in collaboration with members of the network. Further, these new data contributions also increase the number of species documented for a given trait.

It should be noted that the TOPIC database includes not only traits, but also indices of ecological performance, such as indices of shade tolerance and information on species’ edaphic preferences.

Factsheet on the data contained in the TOPIC Literature Review Module (printable pdf format)

I. Morphology and strategy of the adult plant

Trait name Type of data Percent documented**Standardization
Morphological type Nominal 64% Standardized
Raunkiaer life form Nominal 64% Standardized
Maximum height Numerical 78% Standardized
Life Cycle Nominal 63% Standardized
Lateral extension Nominal 27% In progress
Vegetative propagation Nominal 61% In progress
Underground storage Nominal 34% In progress
Foliage type Nominal 58% Standardized
Foliage persistence Nominal 56% Standardized
Foliage structure Nominal 50% Standardized
Foliage orientation Nominal 3% In progress
Root depth Nominal or
numerical
30% In progress
Physical defence Nominal 48% Standardized
Growth Nominal 35% In progress
Nutritional adaptations Nominal 3% In progress
Fire resistance Nominal 16% In progress
Stem-specific density Numerical NA In progress
Xylem cavitation Numerical NA In progress
Minimum stem water potential Numerical NA In progress
Leaf mass per area Numerical NA In progress
Leaf area Numerical NA In progress
Specific leaf area Numerical NA In progress
Leaf thickness Numerical NA In progress
Leaf area: Sapwood Area RatioNumerical NA In progress
Leaf dry matter content Numerical NA In progress
Stomatal density Numerical NA In progress
Guard cell length Numerical NA In progress
Minimum leaf water potential Numerical NA In progress

II. Strategy for regeneration and dispersal

Trait name Type of dataPercent documented**Standardization
Mode of reproduction Nominal 52% Standardized
Flowering phenology Nominal 60% Standardized
Inflorescence type Nominal 52% Standardized
Inflorescence colour Nominal 53% Standardized
Cleistogamous Nominal 42% Standardized
Pollination vector Nominal 38% In progress
Age of sexual maturity Numerical 25% In progress
Seed production Nominal 25% In progress
Seed dispersal vector Nominal 76% Standardized
Seed length Numerical 64% Standardized
Seed width Numerical 20% Standardized
Seed depth Numerical 12% Standardized
Dispersule length Numerical 31% Standardized
Dispersule width Numerical 9% Standardized
Dispersule depth Numerical 1% Standardized
Dispersule type Nominal 55% In progress
Seed persistence Nominal 47% In progress
Seed dormancy Nominal 41% Standardized
Seed weight Numerical 74%a Standardized
Age of optimum seed productionNumerical 11% In progress
Frequency of good seed crops Numerical 14% In progress
Fire tolerance Nominal 16% In progress
Seed viability Numerical NA In progress

III. Resource utilization

Trait name Type of dataPercent documented**Standardization
Water preference Nominal 80%b In progress
Light requirement Nominal 49% Standardized
Maximum pH Numerical 7% Standardized
Minimum pH Numerical 7% Standardized
Minimum tolerable temperatureNumerical 16% In progress
Minimum tolerable Rainfall Numerical 16% In progress
Minimum frost free days Numerical 16% In progress
Drought tolerance Nominal 16% In progress
Leaf nitrogen content Numerical NA In progress
Leaf phosphorous content Numerical NA In progress
Photosynthetic capacity Numerical NA In progress

IV. Others

Trait name Type of dataPercent documented**Standardization
Status Nominal 59% Standardized
Habitat description Descriptive 54% In progress
Disturbance earthworm invasionNominal 7% In progress

**Total number of species excludes those for which only the traits seed weight and/or water preference are documented