Litter
Definition
Forest carbon pool that includes the detritus, leaves, small dead biomass lying on the ground, and humus layers of the soil surface.
Source
Glossary. M.S. Ashton et al. (eds.), Managing Forest Carbon in a Changing Climate,DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-2232-3, © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012
Alternative definition
Refers to dead, but undecomposed, organic material such as leaves, bark, needles and twigs which covers the forest floor.
Alternative source