What is "vernation"

Vernation \Ver*na"tion\, n. [F. vernation: cf. L. vernatio the sloughing of the skin of snakes.] (Bot.) The arrangement of the leaves within the leaf bud, as regards their folding, coiling, rolling, etc.; prefoliation.

n. 1 The appearance of new leaf. 2 (context botany English) The arrangement of multiple organs (such as leaves and flower parts) within a bud. 3 (context botany English) Arrangement of only leaves within the bud; prefoliation.

n. (botany) the arrangement of young leaves in a leaf bud before it opens

Vernation (from vernal meaning spring, since that is when leaves spring forth in temperate regions) is the formation of new leaves or fronds. In plant anatomy, it is the arrangement of leaves in a bud.

In pine trees new leaves are short and encased in sheaths. Each leaf bundle consists of 2 to 5 needles. All the leaves on one section of branch grow in length together. In the cabbage, new leaves are folded over, each covered by the previous leaf.