A dataset of specific leaf area observations in the Pan-Central Asian Arid Zone

Based on observed data collecting from existing literature published during 2000-2023, we built the dataset of specific leaf area in the Pan-Central Asian Arid Zone (i.e. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, Mongolia and Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia and Inner Mongolia in northern China). The dataset contained a total of 835 entries of specific leaf area for 362 species, covering eight plant functional types including deciduous broadleaved tree, deciduous broadleaved shrub, and grass. In addition, supporting information such as latitude, longitude, elevation, geographic location and reference were compiled.