The Difference Between Deciduous and Evergreen Trees

When it comes to learning about trees, everyone should be on board! Trees are among the most important natural resources on the planet. Without trees, we would not have a sufficient amount of oxygen, and way too much carbon dioxide, in our atmosphere. You see, trees give off oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, so the relationship between all living creatures on Earth and trees is a significant and ancient one!

One of the first things to learn about trees is that there are two main types that exist: deciduous and evergreen. All trees can be categorized as one or the other. Now you have certainly seen numerous examples of these trees in real life, unless of course you’ve been hiding under a rock! But seeing trees is much different than understanding them. Once you learn the differences between deciduous and evergreen trees, you will know exactly what you are looking at next time!

Deciduous Trees

When you see leaves on a tree, you are looking at a deciduous tree. Deciduous trees grow new leaves in the spring and shed their leaves in the fall; then they remain alive, but dormant, all winter long until the sun shines again and new life can emerge with warmer weather.

In the winter, these trees look bare and brazen, so sometimes they are misinterpreted as dead. But this is far from the truth! Deciduous trees simple “sleep” away the winter time until better weather returns. They shut off all their photosynthesis and chlorophyll productions and take a long seasonal nap!

Angiosperms and flowering plants are deciduous vegetation.

Evergreen Trees

Evergreen trees are conifers, and include species like pines, hemlocks, firs, and spruces. They have needles instead of leaves, which remain in place all year long. Even in the winter, evergreen trees do not lose their pine needles, but sometimes, they can turn color depending on environmental conditions. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Some conifers do lose their needles each fall. These include Larches, Tamaracks, and Bald Cypress.

Gymnosperms and conifers are evergreen vegetation.

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Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall?

Many people look forward to all the colors of autumn. With all the various shades of oranges, reds, and yellows surrounding us, it is really no surprise! But have you ever thought about why tree leaves change colors from summer to fall and back again? Continue reading to finally put an answer to this very common nature question.

Photosynthesis

Why does a maple leaf turn bright red? And why does the oak leaf turn yellow and orange? Where do these colors come from? The answer of course is, photosynthesis. You may remember learning about photosynthesis as a child, but it may be time for a brush up. Leaves produce and distribute food for trees by deriving water from the ground and carbon dioxide from the air. Trees then use sunlight to change water and CO2 into oxygen and glucose: two essential elements trees need to survive. Without glucose and oxygen, trees lack energy and growth potential. And the process of turning water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose is called photosynthesis.

Chlorophyll

So what does photosynthesis have to do with leaves changing color in the fall? Well, a chemical called chlorophyll is necessary for photosynthesis to take place. And it is this chemical that gives leaves their green color. When the days start to get shorter, trees have a biological instinct prepare for winter. During this preparation process, trees will begin to shut down their food production because there is simply not enough sunlight during the day for photosynthesis to happen. This means the green chlorophyll disappears in leaves. When the chlorophyll is gone, the result is a different color leaf. Trapped glucose is what causes the shades of red, while yellows and oranges are simply what lay underneath all the chlorophyll.

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