All the leaves are down. Or are they?
We usually think of fall as the last hurrah for leaves. And it’s true that by now most of
our leaves have fallen and the woodlands have a barren look. But there are hangers-on. Oaks and beech mostly, trees that have an extra strong connection to their leaves, even when they’re trying to let them drop.
Fall is transition time for deciduous trees, a time to prepare to go dormant for the
winter months by absorbing and storing the nutrients in chlorophyll. Once that’s done,
the tree forms a layer of scar tissue at the base of each leaf, which results in the leaf
detaching and eventually falling to the ground. Losing leaves is an amazing adaptation
for surviving the freezing temperatures of the winter months.
Some leaves, notably those of oaks and beech, can remain stubbornly attached
until spring. Even though these leaves have been cut off and dried, the connection
remains strong enough to hang on much longer than other species.
Oaks and beech are important trees in our forests, providing beechnuts and
acorns as well as excellent den and nesting sites for wildlife. On winter woodland walks, look for the leaves hanging on, especially the copper-colored beech, like this one photographed after a January snowfall in Secor Metropark.
