Archive for the ‘Marcescence’ Category

Marcescence (Retaining Leaves Fall And Winter)

Through the fall and winter seasons, certain landscape and woodland trees retain their dead brown leaves on branches. Beech (Fagus spp.) and oak (Quercus spp.) are two common examples. Winter winds and precipitation will eventually force leaves to drop. Plant scientists term the retention of leaves as “marcescence”. There are many theories as to why […]

Leaf Retention In Landscape Trees

              Most deciduous landscape trees drop their leaves sometime in autumn. The physiology of autumn leaf drop is primarily stimulated by changes in photoperiod or shorter daylength. Autumn colors develop and the leaf petioles form an abscission layer. Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), for example, start to color up in early September. Winter leaf retention by […]