marcescent
/mɑːˈsɛs(ə)nt
/adjective Botany
(Of a leaf or frond) withering but remaining attached to the stem.After tertiary capitula ripened, cauline leaves senesced and remained marcescent on the stems....
- Several trees normally have marcescent leaves such as oak (Quercus), beech (Fagus) and hornbeam (Carpinus).
- There seems to be no evidence that marcescent leaves provide additional cold protection.
Derivatives
marcescence
- Legend notwithstanding, the ecological causes and consequences of marcescence are not well understood.
- Marcescence is considered a juvenile characteristic because it is more common on younger trees and on the lower, more juvenile, parts of older trees.
Origin
Early 18th century: from Latin marcescent- 'beginning to wither', from marcere 'wither'.