Table 3.

Pearson correlations (r) of average standardized plasticity (S̄_j) for leaf dry mass (M_A) and nitrogen content (N_A) with average leaf age (ᾱ) in different woody (evergreen conifers and evergreen broad-leaved species, deciduous broad-leaved species) and herbaceous (forbs and grasses) plant life forms

Life form	S̄j for MA vs. Log(ᾱ)				S̄j for NA vs. Log(ᾱ)
	r	P	n	Age range (yr)	r	P	n	Age range (yr)
Evergreen conifers	-0.34&	0.065	30	0.12-5.21	-0.40#	0.05	24	0.14-11.1
Evergreen broad-leaved species	-0.36	0.43	7	0.13-2.46	-0.62	0.08	9	0.13-2.46
All evergreens	-0.35	<0.04	37	0.12-5.21	-0.42	<0.02	33	0.13-11.1
Deciduous broad-leaved (flush)	0.55	<0.005	28	0.01-0.43	0.51	<0.03	19	0.01-0.39
Deciduous broad-leaved (continuous)	0.68	<0.005	18	0.06-0.35	0.36	0.36	10	0.09-0.44
All deciduous broad-leaved species	0.42	<0.005	46	0.01-0.43	0.44	<0.02	29	0.01-0.44
Forbs	-0.14	0.69	10	0.08-0.20	0.34	<0.03	42	0.06-0.20
Grasses					-0.35*	0.07	29	0.06-0.31

Standardized relative plasticity is defined by Eq. 2. Deciduous broad-leaved species are divided among flush-type species that form a single leaf flush in the beginning of the growing season and continuous-type species that form leaves continuously or in multiple flushes through the growing season

Due to limited data, S̄_j for M_A vs. Log(ᾱ) statistics for grasses could not be calculated.

^&r = -0.53, P < 0.005, without an outlying observation of Picea abies at ᾱ = 5.21 yr (Fig. 4d)

^#r = - 0.68, P < 0.001, without an outlying observation of Pinus contorta at ᾱ = 2.1 yr (Fig. 6e)

^*r = -0.63, P < 0.001 without data for cyperoid grass Carex acutiformis exhibiting an opposite response (Fig. 6h)