What Scientists Are Discovering about Trees that Cling to Their Dead Leaves in Winter

Not all trees drop their leaves in the fall. Even in the height of winter, a curious number of oak and beech trees refuse to let go of their brown, brittle foliage. The delicate corpses rattle on the living branches until the warm season returns.

This is not a new phenomenon. For at least 2,000 years, people have documented the unusual sightings where certain deciduous species hold onto their dead leaves. It’s called “leaf marcescence” (pronounced mar-sess-sence), derived from “withered” in Latin.

But the zombie-esque scene contradicts our usual understanding of plants: Why would a tree cling to leaves that no longer feed it or help it grow? Is it an oversight? Maybe.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.