Marcescence

Do you want to increase your woodsy vocabulary? Here is a word you might not have heard before: "Marcescence". Marcescence refers to plants that retain their leaves all winter long even after the leaves have withered and died. If you live in a northern state such as Maine, go outside and peer into the woods. No doubt you will see a smattering of young trees that still have crispy, browned leaves hanging on (even though we are now into mid April!) What species do you see? 

Mostly oak, beech, and hornbeam are my guess! (Down south, palm trees show marcescence.) 

Scientists don't know the reason for this retention of dead leaves, but some theories exist. For example, deer and moose prefer tender buds and not crinkly leaves for browse, thus allowing the tree to retain their branch tips. Another theory is that the leaves are shed by wind and storms and as spring advances, some of the leaves drop and provide moisture trapping around the base of the tree. The list of possibilities goes on... And, as new leaves start to form you might see the old leaves still hanging on. I have seen this occur with young beech trees. Interesting stuff!