Ellenberg's L: Light indicator value (Lichtzahl) (1–9)
1 – Plants of deep shade
2 – Species intermediate between 1 and 3
3 – Shade plants, mostly <5% relative illumination
4 – Species intermediate between 3 and 5
5 – Semi-shade plants, >10% relative illumination, but seldom in full light
6 – Species intermediate between 5 and 7
7 – Plants of well-lit habitats tolerating partial shade
8 – High-light plants, seldom occurring at <40% relative illumination
9 – Plants of full light, occurring mostly in full sun
Ellenberg's T: Temperature indicator value (Temperaturzahl) (1–9)
1 – Species indicating a cold climate, only in high mountain areas, in the alpine and nival regions
2 – Species intermediate between 1 and 3
3 – Species indicating a cool climate, mainly in subalpine regions
4 – Species intermediate between 3 and 5, especially montane and high montane species
5 – Species indicating a moderately warm climate, from lowlands to montane regions, with an emphasis on submontane regions
6 – Species intermediate between 5 and 7 (from planar to collin regions)
7 – Species indicating a cold climate, in northern Central Europe only in relatively warm lowlands
8 – Species intermediate between 7 and 9, with an emphasis on submediterranean areas
9 – Species indicating an extremely warm climate, from the Mediterranean area to warmest places in southern Central Europe
Ellenberg's K: Continentality indicator value (Kontinentalitätszahl) (1–9)
1 – Euoceanic species, in Central Europe only with a few outposts
2 – Oceanic species, with an emphasis on Western Europe, including western Central Europe
3 – Species intermediate between 2 and 4, i.e., in large parts of Central Europe
4 – Suboceanic species, centered in Central Europe, spreading eastward
5 – Intermediate species, slightly suboceanic to slightly subcontinental
6 – Subcontinental species, with an emphasis on eastern Central Europe and Eastern Europe
7 – Species intermediate between 6 and 8
8 – Continental species, only at special locations spanning from Eastern to Central Europe
9 – Eucontinental species, absent in western Central Europe and rare in Eastern Europe
Ellenberg's F: Soil moisture indicator value (Feuchtezahl) (1–12)
1 – Species of extremely dry habitats, on soils that often dry out completely
2 – Species intermediate between 1 and 3
3 – Species indicating dry habitats, occurring mostly in dry soils
4 – Species intermediate between 3 and 5
5 – Species indicating soil moisture, mostly on soils with average water content
6 – Species intermediate between 5 and 7
7 – Species of constantly moist but not wet soils
8 – Species intermediate between 7 and 9
9 – Species indicating high soil moisture, mostly occurring on water-saturated soils
10 – Species of shallow-water habitats that may lack standing water in some periods of the year
11 – Species that root underwater and are either floating on the water surface or partially emerge above the surface
12 – Submerged plants that permanently live underwater
Ellenberg's R: Soil reaction indicator value (Reaktionszahl) (1–9)
1 – Species indicating extreme acidity, always found on acidic soils
2 – Species intermediate between 1 and 3
3 – Species indicating acidity but sometimes occurring on nearly neutral soil
4 – Species intermediate between 3 and 5
5 – Species indicating slightly acidic soils, rarely occurring in highly acidic soils
6 – Intermediate species between 5 and 7
7 – Species indicating slightly basic soils, never occurring in highly acidic habitats
8 – Intermediate species between 7 and 9
9 – Species indicating basic conditions, always found on calcareous and other basic soils
Ellenberg's N: Nutrient availability indicator value (Nährstoffzahl) (1–9)
1 – Species indicating soil with extremely low nutrient availability
2 – Species intermediate between 1 and 3
3 – Species of moderately infertile soils
4 – Species intermediate between 3 and 5
5 – Species indicating intermediate soil fertility
6 – Species intermediate between 5 and 7
7 – Species of habitats with mostly high fertility
8 – Species intermediate between 7 and 9
9 – Species indicating extremely rich soils
Ellenberg S: Salt content indicator value (Salzzahl) (0–9)
0 – Species absent from saline soils
1 – Slightly salt-tolerant species able to persist in the presence of salt
2 – Species occurring in both saline and non-saline soils
3 – Species of mostly saline, coastal habitats that also occur on non-saline soils
4 – Species occurring in habitats with moderately saline soils, salt meadows and upper salt marshes
5 – Species of saline habitats, such as cliffs receiving salt spray
6 – Species of mostly highly saline habitats, salt marshes
7 – Species of highly saline soils of lower salt marshes
8 – Species of soils mostly inundated by sea water
9 – Species of extremely saline conditions, where sea water evaporates and precipitates salt
Data source and citation:
Ellenberg, H., Weber, H. E., Düll, R., Wirth, V., Werner, W. & Paulissen, D. (1991) Zeigerwerte von pflanzen in Mitteleuropa. Scripta Geobotanica 18.
Sonkoly, J., Tóth, E., Balogh, N., Balogh, L., Bartha, D. ... Török, P. (2022) PADAPT 1.0 – the Pannonian Database of Plant Traits. bioRxiv, doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.12.05.519136
