# Persistence (botany)

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. 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. Many species of woody plants with persistent fruit provide an important food source for birds and other wildlife in winter.
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.

## Species with persistent parts

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.
| Species | Persistent part |
| Berberis bealei (leatherleaf mahonia) | bud scales |
| Berberis swaseyi (Texas barberry) | bud scales |
| Berberis trifoliolata (agarita) | bud scales |
| Hamamelis virginiana (common witch-hazel) | calyx |
| Matteuccia struthiopteris (ostrich fern) | frond |
| Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern) | frond |
| Aronia arbutifolia (red chokeberry) | fruit |
| Berberis thunbergii (Japanese barberry) | fruit |
| Cephalanthus occidentalis (buttonbush) | fruit |
| Chimaphila umbellata (umbellate wintergreen) | fruit |
| Clethra alnifolia (sweet pepperbush) | fruit |
| Cornus florida (flowering dogwood) | fruit |
| Cotoneaster apiculatus (cranberry cotoneaster) | fruit |
| Crataegus phaenopyrum (Washington hawthorn) | fruit |
| Hamamelis virginiana (common witch-hazel) | fruit |
| Ilex verticillata (winterberry) | fruit |
| Malus coronaria (sweet crabapple) | fruit |
| Malus sargentii (Sargent crabapple) | fruit |
| Orthilia secunda (one-sided wintergreen) | fruit |
| Oxydendrum arboreum (sourwood) | fruit |
| Rhus typhina (staghorn sumac) | fruit |
| Allium tricoccum (ramp) | seed |
| Equisetum arvense (common horsetail) | strobilus |
| Larix occidentalis (western larch) | strobilus |
| Picea mariana (black spruce) | strobilus |
| Pinus banksiana (Jack pine) | strobilus |
| Clematis terniflora (sweet autumn clematis) | style |
| Orthilia secunda (one-sided wintergreen) | 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, the sepals (calyx) and pollinated ovary persist during the winter months. After the ovary is fertilized in the spring, it fuses with the calyx to form a greenish fruit, which eventually becomes woody and brown. 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.

## Image gallery

* Larix decidua has persistent seed cones.
* Equisetum arvense has persistent strobili.
* This Cornus florida cultivar has persistent fruit into winter.
* Seed cones of Pinus banksiana persist on branches long after seeds are released.
* Berberis thunbergii has persistent fruit.
* Malus sargentii has persistent fruit.
* Serotinous seed cones of Picea mariana persist even after fire has caused the seeds to be released.
* Fruit of this Aronia arbutifolia cultivar persist through the winter and into early spring when new buds are emerging.
* Hamamelis virginiana with persistent calyx in April
* Hamamelis virginiana with persistent fruit in April