Table 2.

List of traits, abbreviations and units

	Abbreviation
Trait	Green leaves	Litter	Unit
Specific leaf area	SLAgreen	–	m2 kg−1
Leaf dry matter content	LDMCgreen	–	mg g−1
Leaf tensile strength	LTSgreen	–	MN m−2
Leaf resistance to fracture	LRFgreen	–	J m−2
Leaf nitrogen concentration	LNCgreen	LNClitter	mg g−1
Leaf phosphorus concentration	LPCgreen	LPClitter	mg g−1
Leaf carbon concentration	LCCgreen	LCClitter	mg g−1
Initial lignin concentration	–	LIGlitter	mg g−1
Initial cellulose concentration	–	CELlitter	mg g−1
Initial hemicellulose concentration	–	HEMlitter	mg g−1
Hollocellulose to lignocellulose quotient	–	HLQlitter	–
Fibre component	–	LCHlitter	mg g−1
Potential decomposability	–	Kpot	g kg−1 d−1

Indications (given as trait abbreviation) of the condition of the leaf material (green leaf or litter) when the trait is measured are given.