A dataset of leaf inclination angles for temperate and boreal broadleaf woody species

Knowledge about leaf inclination angle distribution is essential for determining the radiation transmission within vegetation canopies and to indirectly quantify canopy attributes such as leaf area index and G-function. For this purpose, we measured and compiled an extensive dataset of leaf inclination angles for 138 deciduous broadleaf woody species commonly found in temperate and boreal ecoclimatic regions. We released an R routine to calculate leaf inclination angle statistics, leaf inclination angle distribution type and G-function from measured leaf inclination angles, which can be used to parametrize optical measurements of light transmittance and for radiative transfer modeling purposes. The leaf inclination angle distribution type can be also used as a plant functional trait to understand light use and photosynthetic plant strategies and to perform functional diversity analyses.