Functional attributes measured and their ecological significance

water use attributes
- e.g. irrigation:
Mean stomatal size
Mean stomatal density
Epidermal cell size
Epidermal cell wall undulation
Root diameter at 10 cm depth (a surrogate for root length)

productivity attributes
– e.g. manuring:
Maximum canopy height and diameter
Maximum leaf weight and area per node
Leaf area per node:leaf thickness
Mean specific leaf area
(leaf area/dry leaf weight)
Mean leaf dry matter content
(dry leaf wt./fresh leaf wt.)

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disturbance tolerance attributes
– e.g. tillage, weeding:
Length of flowering period
Vegetative spread (horizontal
or vertical root system)

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habitat stability conditions:
Seed weight and shape

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seasonality attributes – sowing time:
Germination time
Timing of flowering period

shade tolerance attributes – e.g. intensity of tillage:
Stomatal distribution (amphistomatous or not)