Erythrina zeyheri leaves

Annual new growth in deciduous perennial plants such as Erythrina zeyheri has to produce enough food for the seasonal growth culminating in flowering and seed production. It also takes care of replenishing longer term underground storage in the roots.

In the case of the ploughbreaker there is a sturdy woody suffrutex, a specialised facility that performs this function. The stored resource carries the plant through winter to bring about fast and robust regeneration when the new growth season launches the next action burst.

Coloured autumn leaves latently hold their pretty shades all year round, although not visible in the growth phase. Autumn colours are masked by the chlorophyll glut present at first, only to be exposed when the chlorophyll diminishes at the onset of rest.

In autumn when dry leaves fall, leaf scars are fashioned by the plant to seal the stem wounds, a housekeeping task required for safeguarding the plant (Schmidt, et al, 2002; www.mbgnet.net).