Malus/mallus/malas Drop?

[Gary Prentice]

Can anyone expand on the above term? Tree Officer suggested it to a client to explain de-foliation of a Birch last summer. The tree put out new leaves which fell naturally in autumn.

 

I've visited this afternoon and apart from the the odd leaf the tree's still bare, whereas the other birch in the garden are almost in full leaf. Twigs that I could reach were dead.

 

No weedkillers, salt or other chemicals have been used. No construction works in the last fifteen years, surrounding plants appear normal, no obvious/known symptoms of a change in the water table.

 

The leaves that are present are almost full size, no sign of pests or diseases but they are slightly reddish/dark brown inter-venal. But not a leaf rust.:confused1:

[Le Sanglier]

I don't know about the term but IME mature birch can be funny like that, turn their toes up at a moments notice, they're up and then that's it, gonners.

[Gary Prentice]

Lol, It's barely mature, planted 1975 so 38yr old. It's just bugging me because I can't find any reference to the term, nor identify any reason for it's apparent demise.

[Peasgood]

Maybe he said malaise.

[Warren Stirling]

Maybe he said malaise.

 

That would make sense but never heard it used referring to a trees health before.

[Gary Prentice]

I think my clients misheard or misunderstood. From wickipedia:

 

Lammas leaves or Lammas growth refers to a second crop of leaves produced in high summer by some species of trees in temperate countries to replace those lost to insect damage. They often differ slightly in shape, texture and/or hairiness from the earlier leaves.

 

I'll go back in a couple of weeks and have a better look.

[Graham]

I think my clients misheard or misunderstood. From wickipedia:

 

Lammas leaves or Lammas growth refers to a second crop of leaves produced in high summer by some species of trees in temperate countries to replace those lost to insect damage. They often differ slightly in shape, texture and/or hairiness from the earlier leaves.

 

I'll go back in a couple of weeks and have a better look.

 

We've always called the second growth on oaks Lammas. August usually.