Bejeweled

April 7, 2025

There are some leaves that are water repellant. I love to see these plants during rain, or just after rain has fallen. The leaves look to me like they are covered with gem stones. This is a leaf of Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) and is a great example of a leaf that is water repellant, or hydrophobic, looking to me like it is bejeweled.

Leaves with this trait often have a surface that is a waxy layer, known as the cuticle. Other leaves are covered with small hairs, or trichomes, to help water run off the leaf. The hydrophobicity may help the plant keep its leaves clean. Another benefit of hydrophobic leaves is it helps reduce water loss through the leaf surface.

Whatever the reason, I appreciate the beauty that is a result of this trait.

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Published by

Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.