New database bridges global gaps in plant trait data

From diverse shapes and sizes to complex dispersals and defenses, seed traits hold the secrets to how plants adapt, reproduce, and survive. Yet, when it comes to global plant trait data, there is a noticeable gap: We know far more about leaves than we do about seeds. And it is not just "what" that is missing—it is also "where." Much of the world's seed trait data comes from just a few regions like Western Europe and Australia, leaving biodiversity hotspots like China poorly represented in global datasets.