Botanical Nerd Word: Marcescent

Oak with marcescent leaves

Marcescent (mar-ses-ent): of parts of certain plants, remaining attached to the plant when withered.*

Many oak (Quercus spp.) and beech (Fagus spp.) trees have marcescent leaves that persist well into the winter.

*Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition, 2014.