Deciduous Trees

The characteristic feature of all deciduous shrubs and trees is falling off their foliage in a particular period of the year. It is a natural phenomenon caused due to abscission. In botany, plant parts abscise, when they are no longer needed by the plant or its function is over. Say for instance; loss of leaves, shedding of flowers and dropping of ripened fruits are all examples of abscission. Here, we shall take a look at deciduous trees basics, facts and types of the same.

What are Deciduous Trees?

Deciduous trees are those plant species that shed all their foliage seasonally. The term deciduous is derived from the Latin word for fall off, decido. Examine the base of a deciduous tree leaf; the inner cells are weak, while there are active cells in the center. As the middle cells start dividing, they expand extensively, resulting in falling of leaves. Losing of foliage or shedding of blooms help in conserving water and nutrients for other plant parts. Thus, abscission is considered a beneficial strategy for maintaining nutrient levels in the plants. Know more on guide to identifying trees.

Deciduous Trees Facts

In most of the deciduous tree species, the actual time of the year in which shedding of leaves takes place often coincides with harsh climatic condition in the area. To be more precise, you know about leaves fall during autumn and fall in polar and temperate regions. While several deciduous trees in tropical and subtropical climates shed their leaves in prolonged dry conditions. Following are some interesting facts about deciduous trees:

• Deciduous trees are very diverse in their growing habit and size. They are found abundantly in areas having extreme seasonal temperature variance.
• In contrary to true deciduous tree species, there are semi-deciduous varieties, in which development of new leaves trigger shedding of old foliage. It is like replacing old leaves with new growths.
• The term 'broadleaf trees' is used concurrently for deciduous trees. It is because of the foliage size, which is relatively larger than those of coniferous tree species.
• Broad leaves of deciduous trees are good for photosynthesis (synthesis of food). However, the increased surface area makes them susceptible to cold, frost and disease infestations.
• In some species (e.g. forsythia), blooms appear when the trees shed their leaves. This increases the probability of fertilization, thus, enhancing seed formation (if applicable).
• Deciduous trees usually have a very long lifespan, some of which even live up to 400 years. The loss of foliage and conservation of energy add to the prolonged lifespan of deciduous trees.

Common Deciduous Trees Types

Several deciduous trees are grown as ornamental plants. The leaves display a wide array of colors before shedding. For deciduous trees that lose their foliage in autumn season, this changing of leaves from green to yellow or red is termed as fall foliage or autumn leaf color. Take the example of spectacular maple trees; depending upon the cultivar, the leaves turn to yellow, orange or red during fall season. Popularly grown deciduous trees types are oak trees, poplar trees, maple trees, dogwood trees, ashes and birches.

In order to identify deciduous trees, certain aspects are taken into consideration, some of which include leaf size, leaf shape, inflorescence and type of fruit borne on the particular plant species. During hot climatic conditions, spreading deciduous trees with large sized leaves are perfect for providing shade and making the surrounding environment cool. The falling of leaves also creates a unique landscape view. Overall, they are priced for their aesthetic value, timber, food value and other uses.