Botancial Nerd Word: Vernation

Young beech leaves unfolding from the bud.

Vernation: The pattern of folding and rolling of leaves in a bud.*

Different plants use different folding patterns to pack their leaves into the bud. These beech leaves (Fagus spp.) for example, are folded together like fans. If you look closely at the opening leaf buds this week, you’ll see many different vernation patterns unfolding.

*Tootill, E. (ed.) (1984). The Penguin dictionary of botany. London: Penguin.