A comprehensive global database of plant functional traits from the TRY initiative. This dataset contains standardized measurements of key plant functional traits across multiple species, genera, and families.
TRYA data frame with 58,964 rows and 23 variables:
Character. Species name
Character. Genus name
Character. Family name
Numeric. Dispersal unit length, mm. (TraitID: 237)
Numeric. Leaf area (in case of compound leaves: leaflet, undefined if petiole is in- or excluded), mm2. (TraitID: 3113)
Numeric. Leaf dry mass per leaf fresh mass (leaf dry matter content, LDMC), g/g. (TraitID: 47)
Numeric. Leaf carbon (C) content per leaf dry mass, mg/g. (TraitID: 13)
Numeric. Leaf nitrogen (N) content per leaf dry mass, mg/g. (TraitID: 14)
Numeric. Leaf nitrogen/phosphorus (N/P) ratio, g/g. (TraitID: 56)
Numeric. Leaf nitrogen (N) content per leaf area, g m-2. (TraitID: 50)
Numeric. Leaf phosphorus (P) content per leaf dry mass, mg/g. (TraitID: 15)
Numeric. Leaf nitrogen (N) isotope signature (delta 15N), per mill. (TraitID: 78)
Numeric. Leaf fresh mass, g. (TraitID: 163)
Numeric. Leaf mass per area. (1/SLA)
Numeric. Plant height vegetative, m. (TraitID: 3106)
Numeric. Root rooting depth, m. (TraitID: 6)
Numeric. Seed length, mm. (TraitID: 27)
Numeric. Seed dry mass, mg. (TraitID: 26)
Numeric. Seed number per reproduction unit, number. (TraitID: 138)
Numeric. Leaf area per leaf dry mass (specific leaf area, SLA or 1/LMA): petiole excluded, mm2 mg-1. (TraitID: 3115)
Numeric. Stem specific density (SSD, stem dry mass per stem fresh volume) or wood density, g/cm3. (TraitID: 4)
Numeric. Stem conduit density (vessels and tracheids), mm-2. (TraitID: 169)
Numeric. Wood vessel element length; stem conduit (vessel and tracheids) element length, micro m. (TraitID: 282)
The TRY database represents a global effort to compile plant functional trait data from multiple sources and research groups. Plant functional traits are morphological, physiological, and phenological characteristics that influence fitness and ecosystem functioning. This dataset includes key traits related to:
Leaf economics (SLA, LDMC, leaf nutrients)
Plant architecture (height, rooting depth)
Reproductive strategy (seed mass, seed number)
Wood anatomy (vessel length, conduit density)
Chemical composition (C, N, P content)
Missing values (NA) are common in trait databases due to the difficulty of measuring all traits for all species.
Kattge, J., Bönisch, G., Díaz, S., et al. (2020). TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access. Global Change Biology, 26(1), 119-188. tools:::Rd_expr_doi("10.1111/gcb.14904")