Table 2.

Bud bank traits. Most bud bank traits can be applied to plant individuals or the plant community as a whole. Example units of measurement are not an exhaustive list

Bud bank traits	Example units of measurement
Morphological type of bud-bearing organ (BBO)	Proportion of buds on rhizomes
BBO longevity	Range or average longevity of BBO
Bud longevity	Range or average longevity of buds
Bud bank size	Number per stem, per plant or per soil volume
Bud preformation	Proportion of performed buds for generative purposes
Bud protection	Proportion of buds protected by bark
Age structure of buds in the bud bank	Number of bud cohorts at a given point in time; proportion of buds according to age group; single- or mixed-aged bud banks
Size/stage structure of buds in the bud bank	Number of size or stage classes at a given point in time; proportion of buds according to size/stage classes; single- or multi-staged bud banks
Dormancy within the bud bank	Ratio of dormant to active buds
Seasonal fluctuation of bud numbers	Maximum relative change in bud bank size; timing of major changes in bud bank size
Vertical distribution of bud bank	Range of bud depths; average bud depth
Spatial distribution of bud bank	Proportion of buds on horizontal rhizomes versus at the base of vertical stems; proportion of buds on roots versus buds on stems
Meristem:BBO support ratio	Bud number per amount of storage carbohydrates; bud bank size per biomass of bud-bearing organ