In temperate regions, tree leaves could be a source of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals for ruminants. Our objective was to study the diversity in chemical composition and digestibility of leaves on a panel of native woody species or potentially adapted to temperate regions. The leaves of 28 trees, 14 shrubs and 8 liana species were collected during summer across locations in France. Shoots of 8 herbaceous species were also collected for comparison. Fodder samples were analysed for in vitro digestibility (IVDMD), dry matter content and concentrations in crude protein (CP), neutral and acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, ash, condensed tannins (CT), and macro and micro minerals. All these variables, expressed on DM basis, varied widely according to species (P < 0.001) and life form (P < 0.001). Overall DM content (mean = 375 g kg⁻¹ fresh matter), IVDMD (66%), concentrations in CP (145 g kg⁻¹) and Ca (18 g kg⁻¹) of woody species leaves were similar to the range seen in traditional herbaceous forage. Leaves CP concentration of 44% of the woody species was higher than 140 g kg⁻¹ and 34% of woody species showed leaves IVDMD greater than 70%. Leaves CT concentration varied from 0.1 to 190 g kg⁻¹ according to species. Average CT concentration of lianas (52 g kg⁻¹) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than trees (28 g kg⁻¹) and shrubs (25 g kg⁻¹). Three clusters of species were identified by the hierarchical clustering on principal components. The species belonging to the same phylogenetic family were often gathered in the same cluster and there was no evidence of an effect of the life form on the classification of species. Species such as Morus alba, Sambucus nigra, Ficus carica, Prunus spinosa or Passiflora edulis showed high values in CP, Ash, Ca, K, Mg, IVDMD and P concentrations and could be used as dietary supplements. This study is one of the first to report in details chemical composition and IVDMD of large number of trees, shrubs and liana species.

在温带地区，树叶可能是反刍动物的能量、蛋白质、维生素和矿物质的来源。我们的目标是研究一组本地木本植物或可能适应温带地区的叶子的化学成分和消化率的多样性。夏季在法国各地收集了 28 棵树、14 种灌木和 8 种藤本植物的叶子。还收集了 8 种草本植物的枝条进行比较。对饲料样品进行了体外消化率 (IVDMD)、干物质含量和粗蛋白 (CP)、中性和酸性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤木质素、灰分、缩合单宁 (CT) 以及大量和微量矿物质的分析。所有这些变量都以 DM 为基础，根据物种（P  < 0.001）和生命形式（P  < 0.001)。木本植物叶子的总 DM 含量（平均值 = 375 g kg ^-1新鲜物质）、IVDMD (66%)、CP (145 g kg ^-1 ) 和 Ca (18 g kg ^-1 ) 的浓度与所见范围相似在传统的草本饲料中。44% 的木本物种的叶子 CP 浓度高于 140 g kg ^-1并且 34% 的木本物种的叶子 IVDMD 大于 70%。根据物种的不同，叶子的 CT 浓度从 0.1 到 190 g kg ^-1不等。藤本植物 (52 g kg ^-1 ) 的平均 CT 浓度显着高于 ( p  < 0.001) 树木 (28 g kg ^-1 ) 和灌木 (25 g kg ^{-1 )}）。通过主成分的层次聚类确定了三个物种集群。属于同一系统发育家族的物种往往聚集在同一簇中，没有证据表明生命形式对物种分类有影响。桑树、接骨木、无花果、刺李或西番莲等物种的CP、灰分、Ca、K、Mg、IVDMD 和 P 浓度显示出高值，可用作膳食补充剂。这项研究是最早详细报告大量乔木、灌木和藤本植物的化学成分和 IVDMD 的研究之一。