I have been adding annotations to various observations recently and was wondering what the correct annotation for Leaves would be in this situation. The leaves are from the year before and usually have decomposed by that time. Is it correct to put colored leaves because they are present, just died off, or put no live leaves?
Thank you in advance!
- Colored leaves: At least one leaf or needle has late season or drought color
- No live leaves: No breaking leaf buds or green or colored leaves or needles are visible
so if you know that the leaves are dead dead, and there are no leaves or breaking buds, then i would go with “No live leaves”.
I’m always unsure how to annotate coltsfoot since scales on the stem are technically also leaves.
On the one hand, you’re right that bracts are modified leaves. On the other hand, most people use “leaves” only for well-developed leaves, i.e., non-bracts. In fact, Coltsfoot is famous for blooming before it has leaves (though it has bracts). So I think I’d describe a flowering Coltsfoot as “flowering, no live leaves” expecting that that would be consistent with what most other people would do.