Leaf functional trait dataset of 93 dominant woody species from the central Western Ghats, India

We present a comprehensive dataset of qualitative and quantitative leaf functional traits for 93 dominant woody species representing two distinct leafing phenologies and three growth forms from the central Western Ghats of India. Quantitative assessments were conducted for nine key traits: leaf area (LA), mean thickness (LTH), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf tissue density (LTD), leaf nitrogen concentration (Leaf N), carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N), and phytolith yield, following standard protocols. For each species, 30 leaves were sampled from a minimum of five individuals, totalling 2790 leaf samples. Qualitative traits, including leaf shape, margin, surface, texture, apex, base, type, and latex presence, were recorded in the field and validated using field manuals. The majority of species sampled were evergreen (74 %), with deciduous species comprising the remainder. Given the growing importance of plant functional traits in ecological research, this dataset offers valuable species-level leaf trait information at the regional scale. The phytolith yield data, in particular, represent one of the few globally available datasets, providing essential baselines for palaeoecological research and enabling quantitative reconstruction of vegetation composition and environmental change over millennial timescales.