Changes in leaf structure during the winter
Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 8:25 pm
I've been thinking about bamboo leaves some time now, and about how they change with upcoming winter. Leaves often appear thin and lighter green, and suddenly turn thicker, darker green, sometimes glossy or even waxed. The change occurs on variegated bamboo leaves as well, perhaps even more evident. Anyone who owns Hibanobambusa tranquillans 'Shiroshima' had probably noticed it's transition of light, variegated parts of it's leaves. They turn from cream, whitish color to almost bright yellow.
I have noticed the same thing with my variegated seedlings of Phyllostachys arcana (Luteosulcata) and the non-variegated seedling. The latter changes considerably, and it's the one that had shown wax on the leaf surface last winter. I did not notice it this year yet, but the variegated seedlings changed already... The variegated parts start as lime green and fade to yellow. With winter, it also changed to even more bright yellow color and some leaves show strange reddish hue. At the moment, I'm not sure if it's just some sort of leaf damage.
Some of the nicest (with most red color) leaves were destroyed recently by a roaming horde of deer that got caught into our neighborhood somehow. I covered them with PVC foil tunnel. Pictures below may show some red hue, but not much around the middle of the leaf. Leaves are much thicker than those during the summer.
So, the question is, how do the leaves change during the winter? Do they all change or are there species that show more adaptations and if so, are they more hardy, compared to those that remain the same during the winter. For example Borinda doesn't change the leaves and it usually just drops everything that freezes and starts anew.
I have noticed the same thing with my variegated seedlings of Phyllostachys arcana (Luteosulcata) and the non-variegated seedling. The latter changes considerably, and it's the one that had shown wax on the leaf surface last winter. I did not notice it this year yet, but the variegated seedlings changed already... The variegated parts start as lime green and fade to yellow. With winter, it also changed to even more bright yellow color and some leaves show strange reddish hue. At the moment, I'm not sure if it's just some sort of leaf damage.
Some of the nicest (with most red color) leaves were destroyed recently by a roaming horde of deer that got caught into our neighborhood somehow. I covered them with PVC foil tunnel. Pictures below may show some red hue, but not much around the middle of the leaf. Leaves are much thicker than those during the summer.
So, the question is, how do the leaves change during the winter? Do they all change or are there species that show more adaptations and if so, are they more hardy, compared to those that remain the same during the winter. For example Borinda doesn't change the leaves and it usually just drops everything that freezes and starts anew.