Functions
Cover Crops
Greywater Friendly
Dynamic Nutrient Accumulators
Compact soil busters
Nitrogen Fixers
Edible Weeds
Weeds as alternative food sources for pests
Nurse Plants
Beneficial Insect Hosts
Bird Hosts
Poultry Forage
Repelling Pests
Insects/ microscopic organisms
Small animals/Birds
Large Animals
Windbreaks
Hedge/Barrier
Aesthetic Nature
Color
Shape
Size
Scent
Flavor
Crossover with philosophies in that the data here are used in a system which may have certain aims. for instance permacultue aims to minimize inputs thus such a system will utilize the data here to intentionally create a system of a certain character
Characteristics/Environmental Context This list would be hopefully listed as spread sheet with the following characteristics as columns for some of the characteristics you would need a further breakdown some characteristics Characteristics here are generally related to a specific environment context, or in terms of moments in time in their life cycle
Water
Sun
Soil
Wind
Heat
Lifetime
Growth Rate
Rooting Habit
Pruning
Containers
Propagation
Seeds Depth/Size/Soil/Water//Wind/Heat/Harvesting
How long seeds remain viable
Harvesting
Likely Pests
Appearance through life cycle
Timing and rates of fruiting
Spoilage
Connects to Calendars and cycles as well as resource needs, such as water, other inputs, and work Also making a plan, Designers checklist, Natural Design Principles Further some characteristics will be need to be seen in connection with one another. for example when a plant is exposed to both high heat and humidity at the same time
Master Gardener ripening schedule
http://ucanr.org/sites/ucmgnapa/Gardening_Books/Common_Pests_-_Problems/