Species functional traits of useful plants from western Amazonia

Functional traits can help explain why certain plants are consistently chosen for specific purposes across diverse cultural contexts. We conducted fieldwork across nine different Indigenous communities spanning a 1,800 km distance in western Amazonia (Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador). In total, we sampled 115 0,1-ha plots, recording the abundance of 1856 woody plant species. For these species, we collected data on 13 different functional traits: specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area (LA), leaf thickness (LT), wood density (WD), maximum diameter (DBH max), latex presence, resine presence, liana, tree, palm, hemiepiphyte, fruit fleshyness and seed mass. In this database, the functional data are primarily measured in the field, with additional values sourced from TRY and other databases. Note that seed mass and fruit fleshyness are compiled at the genus level. Ethnobotanical data refer to whether or not a species is useful to members of the indigenous communities visited. Interviews were conducted insitu ethnobotanical interviews to 25 Indigenous male participants. Understanding how people interact with plants through their functional traits allows us to understand the ecological bases of plant selection.