Marcescence

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/marcescence

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Marcescence is a botanical phenomenon, not a specific species
2. What does it mean when a tree keeps its dead leaves on all winter?When a tree doesn't drop its dead leaves right away, it's called marcescence. The leaves stay attached until spring, like a leafy blanket.
3. Why do trees keep dead leaves on the branches during winter?The leaves act like a blanket that keeps the new buds warm and stops them from drying out. They can also keep away animals that might eat the buds.

Senescence: The biological process of aging and deterioration in living organisms, leading to death.
Abscission: The natural detachment of parts of a plant, such as a leaf, fruit, or flower, from the parent plant.
Petiole: The stalk that connects the leaf blade to the stem; its base is where abscission typically occurs.
Ontogeny: The development or course of development of an individual organism from its beginning to its end.