A disappointing coverage of snow. A mere smattering. I reckon we had slightly more down in the village, but the Cleveland Hills in the distance appear proper snow-clad. This delightful early morning view is looking down on the folly from the western side of Roseberry. An oak sapling, stubbornly holding onto its dried leaves, occupies the foreground.
Many oak trees thrive around here, a mere 50 metres shy of the summit. The tendency to cling to their leaves isn’t exclusive to oaks alone; the beech tree also frequently displays this trait. If you attempt to pluck a leaf from its twig, considerable effort is required. It seems that its vitality hasn’t entirely waned. These lingering leaves, known as marcescent, hang on from autumn’s fade until the arrival of spring. The reasons behind this behaviour vary.
Some Victorian naturalists speculated that the phenomenon is a remnant of evolution when all trees were evergreen, as is the case in many warmer climes today.
Nonetheless, the young sapling does gain distinct advantages. The brown leaves provide shelter for the tender buds, shielding them from winter desiccation, capturing snow and postponing the establishment of a moisture-retaining layer from fallen leaves until later in the spring.
Additionally, the dead and dry leaves may serve as a deterrent to grazing. The branches are less palatable and more noisy to browse, potentially signalling the presence of the herbivore to its predators.
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