Here we present data on 26 morphological and chemical leaf traits of tree species in the Comparative Study Plots (CSPs) of the BEF-China Project. Leaves were sampled accoring to the procedures described in Cornelissen et al (2003), with only fully developped leaves without visible herbivore damage and without excessive epiphyllous organisms being sampled. Leaf sampels were collected by cutting small branches from trees of the respective species using an extendable pruner and only samples from the present vegetation period were collected. Branches were selected to be among the most sun-exposed of the respective individual.

Leaf samples were taken from sun-exposed branches with an expandable pruner. Only completely developed leaves were sampled, without visible herbivore damage and preferably free of leaf fungi. Seven leaves were collected per individual and the majority of species was sampled in five to seven CSPs. Every species was sampled only from one individual per CSP. Rare species that occurred with less than five individuals in all CSPs had a correspondingly lower number of replicates.

Comparative Study Plots in the Gutianshan Nature Reserve

repeated sampling in the CSPs in the Years between 2008 and 2012

Acer amplum Acer cordatum Acer pubipalmatum Adinandra millettii Alangium kurzii Albizia kalkora Alniphyllum fortunei Ardisia crenata Betula luminifera Camellia chekiangoleosa Camellia fraterna Camellia oleifera Carpinus viminea Castanea henryi Castanopsis carlesii Castanopsis eyrei Castanopsis fargesii Castanopsis tibetana Chimonanthus salicifolius Cinnamomum subavenium Cleyera japonica Cornus kousa Corylopsis glandulifera Cyclobalanopsis glauca Cyclobalanopsis gracilis Cyclobalanopsis myrsinifolia Cyclobalanopsis nubium Cyclobalanopsis stewardiana Dalbergia hupeana Daphniphyllum oldhamii Dendropanax dentiger Diospyros kaki Elaeocarpus chinensis Elaeocarpus decipiens Elaeocarpus japonicus Euonymus centidens Eurya alata Eurya muricata Eurya rubiginosa Euscaphis japonica Fraxinus insularis Gardenia jasminoides Glochidion puberum Hovenia trichocarpa Hydrangea chinensis Hydrangea paniculata Ilex buergeri Ilex elmerrilliana Ilex litseifolia Ilex pubescens Ilex purpurea Ilex rotunda Ilex suaveolens Ilex wilsonii Itea chinensis Laurocerasus spinulosa Lindera aggregata Lindera erythrocarpa Lindera glauca Lindera reflexa Liquidambar formosana Lithocarpus glaber Litsea coreana Litsea cubeba Litsea elongata Loropetalum chinense Lyonia ovalifolia Machilus grijsii Machilus pauhoi Machilus thunbergii Magnolia cylindrica Malus leiocalyca Meliosma flexuosa Meliosma oldhamii Michelia skinneriana Myrica rubra Neolitsea aurata Nyssa sinensis Osmanthus cooperi Photinia beauverdiana Photinia hirsuta Photinia parvifolia Picrasma quassioides Pieris formosa Platycarya strobilacea Premna microphylla Prunus discoidea Prunus schneideriana Quercus phillyreoides Quercus serrata Randia cochinchinensis Rhaphiolepis indica Rhamnus crenata Rhododendron latoucheae Rhododendron mariesii Rhododendron ovatum Rhododendron simsii Rhus hypoleuca Schima superba Schoepfia jasminodora Sorbus dunnii Sorbus folgneri Styrax dasyanthus Styrax odoratissimus Symplocos anomala Symplocos heishanensis Symplocos oblongifolia Symplocos paniculata Symplocos setchuensis Symplocos stellaris Symplocos sumuntia Syzygium buxifolium Tarenna mollissima Ternstroemia gymnanthera Tilia endochrysea Toxicodendron succedaneum Vaccinium bracteatum Vaccinium carlesii Vaccinium mandarinorum Viburnum erosum Viburnum sempervirens Weigela japonica