Meanings of dense leafage in English

Birds nested in its dense leafage, fish multiplied in the clear running streams, wild creatures ranged its fastnesses in security.

They continued northward, never leaving the dark shadow cast by the dense leafage, and, as they went slowly, they enjoyed the luxury of the canoe.

When the shot was fired, a peephole was made through dense leafage just where the snake had reposed, but with the report it had 'disappeared.