noun
beautiful shiny autumn leaves
Refers specifically to the glossy, lustrous appearance of autumn foliage, often associated with the vibrant colors of fall.
山全体が照り葉で輝いていた。
The whole mountain was shining with beautiful shiny autumn leaves.
紅葉 is the general term for autumn leaves or the changing of colors, while 照り葉 emphasizes the glossy, shiny quality of the leaves.
Compound of 照り (teri, 'shine, gloss') + 葉 (ha, 'leaf'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word poetically describes the lustrous appearance of autumn leaves.