The First Functional Traits Dataset for the Endemic Flora of Greece: morphology, ecology and ecosystem services

Background: Endemic plant taxa, which are often understudied due to their restricted populations and limited distribution, are a key focus in Greece, which is a major hotspot for plant diversity and endemism within the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot region. This work contributes to national efforts to enhance understanding of Greek endemic diversity by: (a) summarizing existing knowledge on karyology, morphology, ecology, and plant uses through a comprehensive literature review, and (b) providing a complete data bank of selected functional traits for the 1,636 understudied endemic taxa of the Greek flora. New information: This dataset is the first comprehensive compilation of its kind for Greek endemic flora. It includes values for eight functional traits, two ecological characteristics, and one genetic characteristic for all 1,636 endemic taxa, alongside data on the presence or absence of ecosystem services across six categories. The dataset enables further study of Greek endemic flora at various scales, offering insights into the characteristics of these habitat-specialized, unique taxa. It will be used by our team to analyze distribution patterns and relationships between functional traits and habitats, particularly in the context of climate change.