Leaf leaching is a potentially important source of nutrients and carbon in tropical streams. This study examined the leaching rate and variability among species and condition (fresh vs. senesced) of DOC, NH4, NO3, PO4, and other major anions and cations from leaves of common riparian tree species in the Luquillo Experimental Forest in Puerto Rico. Uniform leaf disks were leached in deionized water for one, three, and seven days and the carbon and nutrient content of the resulting leachate was determined. Senesced leaves lost more mass at a faster rate than fresh leaves, due to the decreased leaf integrity. In general, species released more mass as time progressed, despite condition, as integrity was further degraded. DOC was consistently most abundant in leachate regardless of species, condition, or time leached. Dacryodes excelsa was also leached in stream water for six weeks to observe the entire leaching and respiration process. Leaching rate was initially greater than the rate of decomposition; after the fourth week decomposition prevailed. Microbial decay using species specific leachate resulted in predictable exponential decay of carbon. Tropical leaves, especially senesced, have the potential to lose a great deal of their mass and nutrients upon initial immersion into the stream, with increased influence over time. This suggests that the composition of the riparian vegetation can influence stream chemistry; and excess leaf inputs, which often occur during storm events, have the potential to highly impact stream biogeochemistry.