Auditing the plant data

Every plant in the corpus was audited cell by cell. The rules read a handful of values for each plant, such as its growing season, water demand, height and the bed space it needs, and each of those needs an outside source. Sources are graded measured, official, compiled or asserted, the last meaning the model wrote the value itself. A plant with an asserted value in any cell a rule reads fails the gate and is withheld whole, not shown with gaps. Open any plant below to see each value and where it came from. The graph shows the guilds they make.

Where the numbers come from

Every value a rule reads carries its source, the place inside that source it came from, and the raw figure before any conversion. Cells are graded by how the value came to be known, and only the top three grades may be published.

MEASURED 7 cells · field measurement, with an error score

OFFICIAL 169 cells · government or institutional database

COMPILED 62 cells · curated reference, uncited at the point of use

ASSERTED 0 cells · written by the model. Never published.

Water, in millimetres

Demand is a crop coefficient against FAO-56 reference evapotranspiration for Basel; supply is rainfall over the same growing season. Ten-year means, and the driest single season in that decade for comparison - because the spread matters more than the average here. Reference demand is 737 mm against 713 mm of rain, near parity, while rainfall itself ranges 419–921 mm.

class	coefficient	demand	average season	driest season
Low	Kc 0.55	406 mm	met -307	met -14
Moderate	Kc 0.85	627 mm	met -86	deficit +207
High	Kc 1.15	848 mm	deficit +135	deficit +428

Where the sources disagree

Cells are taken from the best-graded source that carries them, but a value two cited sources agree on is a stronger claim than one they do not. These are the disagreements, kept rather than quietly resolved.

plant	cell	used	also stated
Maize	`height_cm`	USDA PLANTS Database 244	Plants For A Future 200
Maize	`water`	USDA PLANTS Database HIGH	Plants For A Future MODERATE
Sunflower	`height_cm`	USDA PLANTS Database 274	Plants For A Future 300
Jerusalem artichoke	`height_cm`	USDA PLANTS Database 299	Plants For A Future 240
White clover	`height_cm`	USDA PLANTS Database 61	Plants For A Future 10
Black alder	`height_cm`	USDA PLANTS Database 1372	Plants For A Future 2500
Sea buckthorn	`height_cm`	USDA PLANTS Database 549	Plants For A Future 600
Chicory	`height_cm`	USDA PLANTS Database 61	Plants For A Future 150
Chicory	`water`	USDA PLANTS Database HIGH	Plants For A Future MODERATE
Kale	`lifespan`	USDA PLANTS Database PERENNIAL	Plants For A Future BIENNIAL

The corpus, cell by cell

15 of 26 rows have every rule-read cell sourced, and only those are shown. Open any plant to see its cells and where each came from.

Maize Zea mays root: top-fibrous every cell sourced

`active_from_week`	23	USDA PLANTS Database	Summer · season names mapped to ISO weeks at Basel latitude; the boundaries are design input
`active_to_week`	35	USDA PLANTS Database	Summer · season names mapped to ISO weeks at Basel latitude; the boundaries are design input
`family`	Poaceae	USDA PLANTS Database	Poaceae
`height_cm`	244	USDA PLANTS Database	8.0 · feet converted to cm sources disagree Plants For A Future gives 200
`lifespan`	annual	USDA PLANTS Database	annual
`spacing_m2`	0.176	USDA PLANTS Database	23000 · acre divided by maximum planting density; the bed each plant is allotted
`water`	2	USDA PLANTS Database	High sources disagree Plants For A Future gives MODERATE
`woody`	False	USDA PLANTS Database	graminoid

Sunflower Helianthus annuus every cell sourced

`active_from_week`	23	USDA PLANTS Database	Summer · season names mapped to ISO weeks at Basel latitude; the boundaries are design input
`active_to_week`	35	USDA PLANTS Database	Summer · season names mapped to ISO weeks at Basel latitude; the boundaries are design input
`family`	Asteraceae	USDA PLANTS Database	Asteraceae
`height_cm`	274	USDA PLANTS Database	9.0 · feet converted to cm sources disagree Plants For A Future gives 300
`lifespan`	annual	USDA PLANTS Database	annual
`spacing_m2`	0.368	USDA PLANTS Database	11000 · acre divided by maximum planting density; the bed each plant is allotted
`water`	1	USDA PLANTS Database	Medium
`woody`	False	USDA PLANTS Database	forb/herb

Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus root: lateral-spreading every cell sourced

`active_from_week`	10	USDA PLANTS Database	Spring and Summer · season names mapped to ISO weeks at Basel latitude; the boundaries are design input
`active_to_week`	35	USDA PLANTS Database	Spring and Summer · season names mapped to ISO weeks at Basel latitude; the boundaries are design input
`family`	Asteraceae	USDA PLANTS Database	Asteraceae
`height_cm`	299	USDA PLANTS Database	9.8 · feet converted to cm sources disagree Plants For A Future gives 240
`lifespan`	perennial	USDA PLANTS Database	perennial
`spacing_m2`	0.371	USDA PLANTS Database	10912 · acre divided by maximum planting density; the bed each plant is allotted
`water`	0	USDA PLANTS Database	Low
`woody`	False	USDA PLANTS Database	forb/herb

Hazel Corylus avellana root: lateral-spreading every cell sourced

`active_from_week`	1	Plants For A Future	in flower from January to April; seeds ripen from September to October · leaf, flower and seed periods unioned; months mapped to ISO weeks by a declared table
`active_to_week`	44	Plants For A Future	in flower from January to April; seeds ripen from September to October · leaf, flower and seed periods unioned; months mapped to ISO weeks by a declared table
`family`	Betulaceae	USDA PLANTS Database	Betulaceae
`height_cm`	600	Plants For A Future	growing to 6 m · metres converted to cm
`lifespan`	perennial	USDA PLANTS Database	perennial
`spacing_m2`	0.2025	Royal Horticultural Society	Within the row planting distances vary from 30-60cm (1-2ft)... plant a staggered double row 45cm (18in) apart · 45 cm between plants, 45 cm between rows; 0.2025 m2 per plant; from the cited page, not independently re-fetched; RHS's generic hedge-planting guide rather than a hazel page; apt here because the corpus row is a coppiced scaffold, which is hedge management
`spread_m`	3.0	Plants For A Future	growing to 6 m (19ft) by 3 m · mature lateral extent; not converted to footprint, no rule reads it
`tray`	lateral-spreading	Plants For A Future	The root pattern is suckering with new plants from underground runners away from the plant [1-2] · PFAF states the architecture directly; mapped to lateral-spreading; PFAF cites [1-2]
`water`	1	Plants For A Future	prefers moist soil
`woody`	True	USDA PLANTS Database	shrub, tree

Runner bean Phaseolus coccineus every cell sourced

`active_from_week`	18	Plants For A Future	in leaf from May to October; in flower from July to September; seeds ripen from August to October · leaf, flower and seed periods unioned; months mapped to ISO weeks by a declared table
`active_to_week`	44	Plants For A Future	in leaf from May to October; in flower from July to September; seeds ripen from August to October · leaf, flower and seed periods unioned; months mapped to ISO weeks by a declared table
`family`	Fabaceae	USDA PLANTS Database	Fabaceae
`height_cm`	300	Plants For A Future	growing to 3 m · metres converted to cm
`lifespan`	annual	USDA PLANTS Database	annual
`spacing_m2`	0.1181	Royal Horticultural Society	with 45-60cm (18in-2ft) between the two rows. Space the canes 15-30cm (6-12in) apart within each row · 22.5 cm between plants, 52.5 cm between rows; 0.1181 m2 per plant; verified against the live page; climbing form on canes; both ranges midpointed
`water`	1	Plants For A Future	prefers moist soil
`woody`	False	USDA PLANTS Database	forb/herb, vine

Pea Pisum sativum every cell sourced

`active_from_week`	18	Plants For A Future	in flower from May to September; seeds ripen from July to October · leaf, flower and seed periods unioned; months mapped to ISO weeks by a declared table
`active_to_week`	44	Plants For A Future	in flower from May to September; seeds ripen from July to October · leaf, flower and seed periods unioned; months mapped to ISO weeks by a declared table
`family`	Fabaceae	USDA PLANTS Database	Fabaceae
`height_cm`	200	Plants For A Future	growing to 2 m · metres converted to cm
`lifespan`	annual	USDA PLANTS Database	annual
`spacing_m2`	0.0225	Royal Horticultural Society	sow seeds 7.5cm (3in) apart in either a single row, or a double row with 30cm (1ft) between them · 7.5 cm between plants, 30 cm between rows; 0.0225 m2 per plant; verified against the live page
`water`	1	Plants For A Future	prefers moist soil
`woody`	False	USDA PLANTS Database	forb/herb, vine

Broad bean Vicia faba every cell sourced

`active_from_week`	18	Plants For A Future	in flower from May to August; seeds ripen from July to September · leaf, flower and seed periods unioned; months mapped to ISO weeks by a declared table
`active_to_week`	39	Plants For A Future	in flower from May to August; seeds ripen from July to September · leaf, flower and seed periods unioned; months mapped to ISO weeks by a declared table
`family`	Fabaceae	USDA PLANTS Database	Fabaceae
`height_cm`	100	Plants For A Future	growing to 1 m · metres converted to cm
`lifespan`	annual	USDA PLANTS Database	annual
`spacing_m2`	0.0855	Royal Horticultural Society	5-7.5cm (2-3in) deep and 15-23cm (6-9in) apart... Space single rows 45cm (18in) apart · 19 cm between plants, 45 cm between rows; 0.0855 m2 per plant; from the cited page, not independently re-fetched; 15-23 cm midpointed; single-row system
`water`	1	Plants For A Future	prefers moist soil
`woody`	False	USDA PLANTS Database	forb/herb, vine

White clover Trifolium repens root: lateral-spreading every cell sourced

`active_from_week`	10	USDA PLANTS Database	Year Round · season names mapped to ISO weeks at Basel latitude; the boundaries are design input
`active_to_week`	48	USDA PLANTS Database	Year Round · season names mapped to ISO weeks at Basel latitude; the boundaries are design input
`family`	Fabaceae	USDA PLANTS Database	Fabaceae
`height_cm`	61	USDA PLANTS Database	2.0 · feet converted to cm sources disagree Plants For A Future gives 10
`lifespan`	perennial	USDA PLANTS Database	perennial
`spacing_m2`	0.101	USDA PLANTS Database	40000 · acre divided by maximum planting density; the bed each plant is allotted
`water`	1	USDA PLANTS Database	Medium
`woody`	False	USDA PLANTS Database	forb/herb

Black alder Alnus glutinosa root: lateral-spreading every cell sourced

`active_from_week`	10	USDA PLANTS Database	Spring and Summer · season names mapped to ISO weeks at Basel latitude; the boundaries are design input
`active_to_week`	35	USDA PLANTS Database	Spring and Summer · season names mapped to ISO weeks at Basel latitude; the boundaries are design input
`family`	Betulaceae	USDA PLANTS Database	Betulaceae
`height_cm`	1372	USDA PLANTS Database	45.0 · feet converted to cm sources disagree Plants For A Future gives 2500
`lifespan`	perennial	USDA PLANTS Database	perennial
`spacing_m2`	3.372	USDA PLANTS Database	1200 · acre divided by maximum planting density; the bed each plant is allotted
`spread_m`	10.0	Plants For A Future	growing to 25 m (82ft) by 10 m · mature lateral extent; not converted to footprint, no rule reads it
`tray`	lateral-spreading	USDA PLANTS Database	Growth Form=multiple stem; Vegetative Spread Rate=none · lateral architecture determined by growth form or spread rate
`water`	1	USDA PLANTS Database	Medium
`woody`	True	USDA PLANTS Database	tree

Sea buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides root: lateral-spreading every cell sourced

`active_from_week`	10	USDA PLANTS Database	Spring and Summer · season names mapped to ISO weeks at Basel latitude; the boundaries are design input
`active_to_week`	35	USDA PLANTS Database	Spring and Summer · season names mapped to ISO weeks at Basel latitude; the boundaries are design input
`family`	Elaeagnaceae	USDA PLANTS Database	Elaeagnaceae
`height_cm`	549	USDA PLANTS Database	18.0 · feet converted to cm sources disagree Plants For A Future gives 600
`lifespan`	perennial	USDA PLANTS Database	perennial
`spacing_m2`	1.499	USDA PLANTS Database	2700 · acre divided by maximum planting density; the bed each plant is allotted
`spread_m`	2.5	Plants For A Future	growing to 6 m (19ft) by 2.5 m · mature lateral extent; not converted to footprint, no rule reads it
`tray`	lateral-spreading	Plants For A Future	The root pattern is suckering with new plants from underground runners away from the plant [1-2] · PFAF states the architecture directly; mapped to lateral-spreading; PFAF cites [1-2]
`water`	0	USDA PLANTS Database	Low
`woody`	True	USDA PLANTS Database	shrub, tree

Squash Cucurbita pepo every cell sourced

`active_from_week`	27	Plants For A Future	in flower from July to September; seeds ripen from August to October · leaf, flower and seed periods unioned; months mapped to ISO weeks by a declared table
`active_to_week`	44	Plants For A Future	in flower from July to September; seeds ripen from August to October · leaf, flower and seed periods unioned; months mapped to ISO weeks by a declared table
`family`	Cucurbitaceae	USDA PLANTS Database	Cucurbitaceae
`height_cm`	60	Plants For A Future	growing to 0.6 m · metres converted to cm
`lifespan`	annual	USDA PLANTS Database	annual
`spacing_m2`	0.81	Royal Horticultural Society	Space each sowing/planting site at least 90cm (3ft) apart for bush plants · 90 cm between plants, square grid assumed (source gives no row figure); 0.81 m2 per plant; verified against the live page; bush form; RHS gives 1.5 m for trailing varieties, and squash is grown in stations rather than rows
`water`	1	Plants For A Future	prefers moist soil
`woody`	False	USDA PLANTS Database	forb/herb, vine

Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus every cell sourced

`active_from_week`	27	Plants For A Future	in flower from July to September; seeds ripen from August to October · leaf, flower and seed periods unioned; months mapped to ISO weeks by a declared table
`active_to_week`	44	Plants For A Future	in flower from July to September; seeds ripen from August to October · leaf, flower and seed periods unioned; months mapped to ISO weeks by a declared table
`family`	Tropaeolaceae	USDA PLANTS Database	Tropaeolaceae
`height_cm`	350	Plants For A Future	growing to 3.5 m · metres converted to cm
`lifespan`	perennial	USDA PLANTS Database	annual, perennial · longest of several listed durations
`spacing_m2`	0.09	Royal Horticultural Society	with rows spaced about 30cm apart... thin the plants out to about 30cm apart · 30 cm between plants, 30 cm between rows; 0.09 m2 per plant; verified against the live page
`water`	1	Plants For A Future	prefers moist soil
`woody`	False	USDA PLANTS Database	forb/herb, vine

Calendula Calendula officinalis every cell sourced

`active_from_week`	23	Plants For A Future	in flower from June to November; seeds ripen from August to November · leaf, flower and seed periods unioned; months mapped to ISO weeks by a declared table
`active_to_week`	48	Plants For A Future	in flower from June to November; seeds ripen from August to November · leaf, flower and seed periods unioned; months mapped to ISO weeks by a declared table
`family`	Asteraceae	USDA PLANTS Database	Asteraceae
`height_cm`	60	Plants For A Future	growing to 0.6 m · metres converted to cm
`lifespan`	annual	USDA PLANTS Database	annual
`spacing_m2`	0.1122	Royal Horticultural Society	Height 45-60cm (18in-2ft) and spacing 30-37cm (1ft-15in) · 33.5 cm between plants, square grid assumed (source gives no row figure); 0.1122 m2 per plant; from the cited page, not independently re-fetched; 30-37 cm midpointed; border annual, no row figure
`water`	1	Plants For A Future	prefers moist soil
`woody`	False	USDA PLANTS Database	forb/herb

Chicory Cichorium intybus root: deep-tap every cell sourced

`active_from_week`	23	USDA PLANTS Database	Summer · season names mapped to ISO weeks at Basel latitude; the boundaries are design input
`active_to_week`	35	USDA PLANTS Database	Summer · season names mapped to ISO weeks at Basel latitude; the boundaries are design input
`family`	Asteraceae	USDA PLANTS Database	Asteraceae
`height_cm`	61	USDA PLANTS Database	2.0 · feet converted to cm sources disagree Plants For A Future gives 150
`lifespan`	perennial	USDA PLANTS Database	biennial, perennial · longest of several listed durations
`spacing_m2`	0.09	Royal Horticultural Society	non-forcing varieties 30cm (1ft) apart... Sow seeds thinly into prepared ground, 1cm deep in rows 30cm (12in) apart · 30 cm between plants, 30 cm between rows; 0.09 m2 per plant; verified against the live page; non-forcing garden chicory, which is what this row describes; RHS gives 15 cm for forcing types and 5 cm for baby leaf. First rejected as unverifiable when a narrower search of the page missed the sentence; found on re-checking the live page in full
`water`	2	USDA PLANTS Database	High sources disagree Plants For A Future gives MODERATE
`woody`	False	USDA PLANTS Database	forb/herb

Kale Brassica oleracea root: top-fibrous every cell sourced

`active_from_week`	18	Plants For A Future	in flower from May to August; seeds ripen from July to September · leaf, flower and seed periods unioned; months mapped to ISO weeks by a declared table
`active_to_week`	39	Plants For A Future	in flower from May to August; seeds ripen from July to September · leaf, flower and seed periods unioned; months mapped to ISO weeks by a declared table
`family`	Brassicaceae	USDA PLANTS Database	Brassicaceae
`height_cm`	120	Plants For A Future	growing to 1.2 m · metres converted to cm
`lifespan`	perennial	USDA PLANTS Database	perennial sources disagree Plants For A Future gives BIENNIAL
`spacing_m2`	0.2025	Royal Horticultural Society	space them 30-60cm (12-24in) apart, depending on the variety... Space rows at least 45cm (18in) apart · 45 cm between plants, 45 cm between rows; 0.2025 m2 per plant; verified against the live page; 30-60 cm midpointed
`water`	1	Plants For A Future	prefers moist soil
`woody`	False	USDA PLANTS Database	forb/herb

Sources

A decision taken by this model, not an observation about the plant. Slot roles and the allelopathy blocklist are design input.
Guerrero-Ramirez N, Mommer L, Freschet GT, et al. (2020). Global Root Traits (GRooT) Database. Global Ecology and Biogeography. doi.org/10.1111/geb.13179. Data publicly available, cited as the data paper requires.
Plant characteristics courtesy of Plants For A Future (https://pfaf.org), a registered UK charity. Database text is CC-BY with share-alike; no PFAF images are used.
Planting distances from Royal Horticultural Society growing guides (https://www.rhs.org.uk). Individual spacing figures only; no RHS text beyond short verification quotes, and no RHS images.
USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC. Work of the US federal government, public domain.

No images from any of these sources are used. Values are individual factual figures, extracted well below any substantiality threshold, and each is shown above with the source and the raw value it came from.