Leaves in Hefei fall as heat wave sweeps on
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-07-28 01:21

Two boys play on with fallen leaves on a sidewalk Tuesday in Hefei, central China's Anhui Province. Heatwave that sweeps central and eastern China has withered leaves and caused them to fall off trees in Anhui Province. [newsphoto]

An old Chinese walks with his pet dog on a sidewalk covered by fallen leaves Tuesday in Hefei, central China's Anhui Province. [newsphoto]

A Chinese cyclist carrying his daughter rides along a street sprinkled with fallen leaves Tuesday in Hefei, central China's Anhui Province. [newsphoto]

The hot weather lingering in East China has withered leaves and caused them to fall off trees in Anhui Province.

High temperature in Hefei, capital of this East China province, was behind the unusual falling of phoenix trees more used to humid climates, said an official surnamed Sun from the city's Bureau of Parks.

The temperature in the city has hovered around 37 C in recent days as few raindrops have come down.

"The leaves shattered due to the inadequate water supply from the trees," Sun said. "That is what it is all about."

Moreover, Doctor Cong from the Institute of Park Research affiliated to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Parks said the phoenix tree, which tends to grow well in a humid environment, is prone to drop its leaves in such an arid climate.

According to Cong, the trees can temporarily adjust to dryness for a while by losing some leaves to save water, but are less likely to survive a long drought.

"When confronting hot weather in summer, it is no surprise that leaves on trees become withered and even fall off." Cong said.

"But long-term dryness can really be harmful to the trees," Cong said.

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