Is there a name for the stains left on sidewalks by fallen leaves?

January 24, 2007 3:22 PM

Is there a name for the stains left on sidewalks by fallen leaves? (I'm looking for something more specific than "leaf stain," any language is fine.)
posted by j.edwards to writing & language (12 comments total)

Silhouettes sounds better than "stains," though it is no more specific.
posted by alms at 3:24 PM on January 24, 2007

Chlorophyll.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:28 PM on January 24, 2007

The stains aren't chlorophyll, they are tannins.

OP, are you looking for a technical term, a literary term, etc?
posted by Good Brain at 3:43 PM on January 24, 2007

I know this isn't super helpful, but the scientists seem to call them leaf stains as well.
posted by jessamyn at 4:02 PM on January 24, 2007

Ghost leaves.

Leaf stains on sidewalks are just memories: tannin shadows that remain after the love affair dissolves.
posted by steef at 4:33 PM on January 24, 2007 [2 favorites]

Leaftovers?
posted by krippledkonscious at 5:25 PM on January 24, 2007 [2 favorites]

Leaflefts!
posted by steef at 5:27 PM on January 24, 2007

Leaf prints.
posted by Iron Rat at 8:28 PM on January 24, 2007 [2 favorites]

Foliagraph? (Who am I kidding, "leaftover" is the best snigglet ever.) Unfortunately, it's probably nothing sexier than imprint, though I wouldn't be surprised if a specific word did show up. And if it does, the Germans probably coined it first. They have a word for everything.
posted by Terminal Verbosity at 8:34 PM on January 24, 2007

I love the sound of Steef's "tannin shadows."
posted by joshers13 at 8:58 PM on January 24, 2007

the Germans probably coined it first. They have a word for everything.

must be something in here...

blattgeist it ain't, that's phyllomedusa (leaf-ghost), a frog; nor is it blattleiche.

blattschatten?
posted by progosk at 4:08 AM on January 25, 2007

I think I've called them leaf shadows before.
But my vote is for krippledkonscious' Leaftovers.
posted by Sprout the Vulgarian at 10:52 AM on January 25, 2007