Persistence (botany)

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Persistent strobilus of Equisetum arvense

Persistence is the retention of plant organs, such as flowers, seeds, or leaves, after their normal function has been completed, in contrast with the shedding of deciduous organs after their purpose has been fulfilled.[1] Absence or presence of persistent plant organs can be a helpful clue in plant identification, and may be one of many types of anatomical details noted in the species descriptions or dichotomous keys of plant identification guides.[2] Many species of woody plants with persistent fruit provide an important food source for birds and other wildlife in winter.[3]

The terms persistent and deciduous are not used in a consistent manner by botanists. Related terms such as long-persistent, generally deciduous, and caducous suggest that some plant parts are more persistent than others. However, these terms lack clear definitions.[4]

Species with persistent parts[edit]

There are numerous herbaceous and woody plant species that produce persistent parts such as bud scales, sepals (calyx), fronds, fruits, seeds, strobili (cones) or styles. Note that the trait of persistence exhibited by a given species within a genus may not be exhibited by all species within the genus. For example, the Equisetum genus includes some species that have persistent strobili while other species have deciduous strobili.[5]

Species Persistent part
Berberis bealei (leatherleaf mahonia)[6] bud scales
Berberis swaseyi (Texas barberry)[7] bud scales
Berberis trifoliolata (agarita)[7] bud scales
Hamamelis virginiana (common witch-hazel)[6] calyx
Matteuccia struthiopteris (ostrich fern)[6] frond
Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern)[6] frond
Aronia arbutifolia (red chokeberry)[3][8] fruit
Berberis thunbergii (Japanese barberry)[9] fruit
Cephalanthus occidentalis (buttonbush)[6] fruit
Chimaphila umbellata (umbellate wintergreen)[10] fruit
Clethra alnifolia (sweet pepperbush)[6] fruit
Cornus florida (flowering dogwood)[11] fruit
Cotoneaster apiculatus (cranberry cotoneaster)[8] fruit
Crataegus phaenopyrum (Washington hawthorn)[3][8] fruit
Hamamelis virginiana (common witch-hazel)[10] fruit
Ilex verticillata (winterberry)[3][6][8][10] fruit
Malus coronaria (sweet crabapple)[6] fruit
Malus sargentii (Sargent crabapple)[12] fruit
Orthilia secunda (one-sided wintergreen)[citation needed] fruit
Oxydendrum arboreum (sourwood)[6] fruit
Rhus typhina (staghorn sumac)[8] fruit
Allium tricoccum (ramp)[citation needed] seed
Equisetum arvense (common horsetail)[13] strobilus
Larix occidentalis (western larch)[14] strobilus
Picea mariana (black spruce)[15] strobilus
Pinus banksiana (Jack pine)[15] strobilus
Clematis terniflora (sweet autumn clematis)[6] style
Orthilia secunda (one-sided wintergreen)[citation needed] style

Common witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) may have a persistent calyx or a persistent fruit (or both at the same time). After flowering in the fall,[16] the sepals (calyx) and pollinated ovary persist during the winter months.[6] After the ovary is fertilized in the spring, it fuses with the calyx to form a greenish fruit, which eventually becomes woody and brown.[17] In the fall, the ripe fruit suddenly splits, explosively dispersing black seeds up to 10 m (33 ft). The empty capsule persists after the seeds are dispersed.[10]

Image gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hitchcock, C. Leo; Cronquist, Arthur (2018). Flora of the Pacific Northwest (2nd ed.). Seattle: University of Washington Press. p. xxxviii, xliii. ISBN 978-0-29574-288-5.
  2. ^ Saupe, Stephen. "Plant Identification (featuring Taxonomic Keys)". College of St. Benedict/St. John's University. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  3. ^ a b c d Jauron, Richard. "It's for the Birds!". Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  4. ^ Harms, Bob. "Deciduous and Persistent". Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  5. ^ Pojar & MacKinnon (1994), pp. 428–431.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Persistent". Master Gardeners Northern Virginia. Virginia Cooperative Extension. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  7. ^ a b Harms, Bob. "Persistent Bud Scales of Berberis in Central Texas". Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e Jauron, Richard. "Trees and Shrubs with Colorful Fruit in Fall and Winter". Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  9. ^ "Berberis thunbergii". USDA and USFS Fire Effects Information System (FEIS). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  10. ^ a b c d Guertin, P.; Barnett, L.; Denny, E.G.; Schaffer, S.N. (2017). "Phenophase Primer for Plants (Draft Version)" (PDF). USA National Phenology Network. p. 78. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Cornus florida". Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  12. ^ Gilman, Edward; Watson, Dennis. "MALUS SARGENTII: SARGENT CRABAPPLE". University of Florida IFAS Extension. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  13. ^ Pojar & MacKinnon (1994), p. 430.
  14. ^ Hitchcock, C. Leo; Cronquist, Arthur (2018). Flora of the Pacific Northwest (2nd ed.). Seattle: University of Washington Press. p. 68. ISBN 978-0-29574-288-5.
  15. ^ a b Morse, Susan. "High-Hanging Fruit: Boom and Bust Seed Crops of Conifers". Northern Woodlands. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  16. ^ Meyer, Frederick G. (1997). "Hamamelis virginiana". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 3. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  17. ^ Meyer, Frederick G. (1997). "Hamamelis". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 3. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Pojar, Jim; MacKinnon, Andy (1994). Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast (2nd ed.). Lone Pine. ISBN 978-1-55105-530-5.
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