The Beech (Fagus sylvatica) leaves in Beckett Park woodland are becoming more translucent as the time approaches for new leaves to appear. These ones caught my eye again this afternoon. The term for these persistent leaves is marcescence which is "the retention of dead plant organs that normally are shed. It is most obvious in deciduous trees that retain leaves through the winter. " The reason for the retention of the leaves is that Beech (and Oak) doesn't form a complete cork-like abscission layer which seperates the tree from its old leaves.Thursday, 25 February 2010
Beech leaves
The Beech (Fagus sylvatica) leaves in Beckett Park woodland are becoming more translucent as the time approaches for new leaves to appear. These ones caught my eye again this afternoon. The term for these persistent leaves is marcescence which is "the retention of dead plant organs that normally are shed. It is most obvious in deciduous trees that retain leaves through the winter. " The reason for the retention of the leaves is that Beech (and Oak) doesn't form a complete cork-like abscission layer which seperates the tree from its old leaves.
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Something else I did not know - but I do now.
ReplyDeleteNice image of the reluctantly deciduous beech! American beech saplings are the ones that don't lose leaves - the mature tree is more efficient at dropping them. That's more or less true of the oaks in my area.
ReplyDeleteI love the rattling of the leaves and the sight of leaves on beeches in winter in the woods.
Thanks for stopping by my blog and for your kind words...
Thanks Tom, I love that description "reluctantly deciduous beech", fantastic. Best wishes Linda
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