AusTraits is an open-source, harmonized database of Australian plant trait data. Plant traits are morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants. The database synthesises data on 448 traits across over 28640 Australian plant taxa from field campaigns, published literature, taxonomic monographs, and individual taxon descriptions. The project is lead by Daniel Falster, Rachael Gallagher, Elizabeth Wenk and Dr Hervé Sauquet.

Plant trait data are the basis for a vast area of research, spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. The State Herbarium of South Australia also contributed data of plant characteristics from the Flora of South Australia to this project.

Recently, the AusTraits database was introduced to the public with the following publication. Among the over 200 authors is also State Herbarium botanist Jürgen Kellermann.

Falster, D., Gallagher, R. et al. (2021). AusTraits, a curated plant trait database for the Australian flora. Scientific Data 8: 254, 20 pp. & online supplement.

Swainsona pyrophila. Photo: SA Seed Conservation Centre.