home » Style » Do coniferous trees shed their needles? What tree sheds its needles for the winter except larch, deciduous conifers

Do coniferous trees shed their needles? What tree sheds its needles for the winter except larch, deciduous conifers

Well-known and common representatives include the following.

Marsh (Taxodium biserialis)

The plant is native to North America. It is distinguished by strong wood and the presence of respiratory roots (pneumatophores). The development of the latter is determined by the natural distribution area of the species.

Found in swamp areas of the USA (from Texas to Delaware). Since swamp soil is characterized by a large amount of moisture and a lack of air, respiratory roots provide the plant with an additional source of oxygen. By autumn, not only leaves fall, but also twigs.

False Kaempfmer

Outwardly very similar to Siberian Larch, it is easy for an inexperienced gardener to make a mistake. The differences are that this species does not have cones that crumble into diamond-shaped plates when ripe, like those of.

The distribution area of the plant is the mountains of Eastern China, where the plant forms forests. It became widespread in gardening culture due to the unique beauty of its needles.

Metasequoia

The tall tree is distinguished by a straight trunk and a wide-conical crown of light green color. The needles of the plant are soft; by autumn they turn yellow and fall off, sometimes even along with the branches.

The speed is different. growth and ease of care. It is not resistant to temperature fluctuations, but grows best in the humid subtropics, along the edges of ravines and river beds.

Metasequoia and Taxodium are related species, despite the fact that they are distributed on different continents. Each of the deciduous species has a number of characteristics, but the seasonal shedding of needles unites them.

Siberian larch sheds its needles for the winter, what else is interesting about it

Siberian is distributed throughout Russia from the Sea of Okhotsk to Lake Onega. It is considered the main species that forms the forests of this region.

Features of the species include:

Unlike other types of wood, the durability of wood only increases over time, which is why it is often used in the construction of houses and shipbuilding. In museums you can find products made of larch, which over the centuries spent in the mounds of Altai have only darkened.
A large number of Russian cities were built on this wood. In addition, it is known that even in tsarist times it was exported. So the piles of the houses of Venice were also made from this very rock;
In addition to deciduousness, the plant is distinguished by its ability to live from four hundred to five hundred years;
Larch is a dioecious plant, that is, both female and male cones are located on the same tree, which is typical for many coniferous species;
The plant tolerates not only a decrease, but also a significant increase in temperature. This feature makes it possible to grow it not only in the harsh conditions of the north, but also in the hot south. Drought, with proper care, will not harm the tree;
The tree trunks are straight and can reach a height of thirty to forty meters. But sometimes they can exceed this size up to fifty meters with a trunk thickness of up to two.

The mechanism of shedding leaves for the winter has developed in larch as a result of climate change. Seasonal cooling significantly worsens the process of enriching the plant with water, and in the presence of green foliage this disadvantage is significantly aggravated.

To avoid the danger of dying due to lack of water and oxygen, the larch was forced to adapt.

Being an unpretentious and hardy species, larch has spread widely across many regions and areas of the globe. It is used both as a garden and industrial crop. A tree can not only decorate the site, but also ensure the longevity of the building.

Does fir shed needles for the winter?

There are several types of deciduous conifers. Leaf shedding in these species arose as a result of adaptation to climate cooling. However, the majority of conifers remain characterized by maintaining a cheerful green appearance at all times of the year.

One of the brightest representatives of evergreen plants is considered to belong to the Pine family.

The main features of the species include:

Unlike other representatives of evergreen trees, fir reproduces not only by seeds, but also by layering, which are formed as a result of grounding its lower branches;
Monoecy - trees are dioecious; both male and female reproductive organs are formed on one plant at the same time;
Tolerates shade perfectly; lack of good lighting does not depress the plant;
Growth in the first ten years of life is slow and only after that it begins to accelerate sharply;
The average lifespan of a tree is from three hundred to five hundred years, sometimes it can live up to seven hundred;
Flowering begins at the age of sixty when grown in the forest and at the age of forty in the park;
Fir cones, unlike pine and spruce, are arranged vertically, resembling candles. They do not fall off, maintaining their integrity, but crumble on the branch, like cedar and false larch in autumn or early winter.

Since fir is an evergreen tree. Unlike larch, this species does not completely shed its needles for the winter.

Renewal of needles occurs gradually, regardless of the time of year. That is why it seems that the fir does not shed its leaves at all.

The common belief that all conifers are evergreens is erroneous.

A striking example of deciduous representatives is considered to be larch - a tree unique in its durability, widespread in horticulture. Used for landscaping areas of various sizes, wood is highly valued in construction.

You will learn more about larch and the secrets of its cultivation by watching the video:

Despite their fellow conifers larch sheds its needles every autumn. A beautiful tree, the needles are not soft, fluffy, not prickly at all, and the wood is considered one of the strongest. It should be noted that all conifers renew their needles anyway - old ones fall, new ones grow, but this happens throughout the year and they remain green all year.

This tree is called larch. Like deciduous trees, it sheds its needles in the fall, just like trees shed their leaves. First, the needles on the larch turn yellow. and then it starts to fall off. This is how the tree renews itself and begins to grow stronger in the spring.

It is believed that larch is the only coniferous tree that gets rid of the thorns that have grown over the summer during the winter. Larch developed this unique mechanism for conifers as an adaptation to the sharply cold climate. Larch is a very beautiful tree with valuable wood. There are several species, the easternmost of which, Kaempfer's larch, lives in Japan.

However, there are also coniferous trees that can shed their needles for the winter - these are metasequoia and swamp cypress, both trees of the cypress family. Both plants live in America and the appearance of their needles bears little resemblance to the coniferous trees we are used to.

Many coniferous trees remain green and lush all year round.

But not all conifers are evergreen. Among them there are those that shed their needles for the winter.

These include:

This is exactly larch. It’s nickname is that in the fall it sheds its needles like leaves. In the spring, it again dresses in its leaves (needles). An amazing tree. Young needles are not light, but during the summer they acquire a darker shade.
Recently I was on an excursion, and they were talking about larch, which turns yellow in the fall and sheds its needles. And in the spring, new, green ones appear. So a coniferous tree that sheds its needles in the fall is larch.
In my opinion, the larch stands bare in the winter) and in the spring new green needles begin to emerge. And besides, they are delicious)))) so sour.
The pine family includes not only our beloved pine. The pine family includes larch, a tree with needles instead of leaves. They gave larch this name because a tree with needles sheds its needles, like a birch tree, like aspen, poplar, maple and any other deciduous tree. So we answer that the larch remains without needles in the fall. But the larch remains without needles in the second year of its life; in the first year, the larch overwinters with needles. Scientists believe that this is how adaptation to harsh climate occurs.
Different types of larches shed their needles at different times. Observations show that Siberian larch remains without needles by the end of October, American larch remains without needles in November.
Indeed, not all trees that are commonly called conifers are evergreen. The most well-known coniferous tree that sheds its leaves (in this case, needles) in the fall is larch. Pseudolarches, Taxodium, Metasevoi and Glyptostrobus also shed needles.
Mostly coniferous plants are evergreen, that is, leaves, needles, and needles remain on the plant for several years (from 2 to 40). but there are 5 genera of coniferous plants that, having shed their leaves - needles, overwinter naked, these are larch, pseudo-larch, glyptostrobus, metasequoia and taxodium.
Only larch of the coniferous trees sheds its needles for the winter, since the other trees: fir, spruce, cedar and pine overwinter with needles and are therefore called evergreen.
Larch forests are very common in Russia and this tree is the main one in the construction of wooden houses, since larch wood is heavily impregnated with resin and is therefore difficult to rot.

A coniferous tree sheds its needles in the winter to protect itself from winter frosts and retain moisture. With the word “coniferous” comes an association with plants that remain evergreen, such as Christmas trees. However, botany experts will not agree with this statement.

Coniferous tree that sheds needles

Coniferous trees are characterized by a periodic change of needles. This is a gradual renewal of trees, which occurs not in a specific season, but throughout the year. Coniferous trees that shed needles include:

Larch

Deciduous coniferous tree, which is common in Western and Central Europe. It grows in the Alps and Carpathians, located at altitudes from 1000 to 2500 meters above sea level. Its height reaches 50 meters, and its trunk diameter is 1 meter. But dozens of decorative forms have been developed, including dwarf ones, that will decorate the garden without taking up much space. It is planted in public places in several groups, on alleys or in courtyards. Unlike other representatives, the needles are not sharp, soft and easily break when pressed. At the same time, the wood of this coniferous tree is one of the strongest in the world.

It is characterized by the following properties:

frost-resistant;
unpretentious to the soil;
adapts well to urban conditions.

Larch is a coniferous tree that sheds its needles for the winter. This feature appeared as a result of its adaptation to harsh climates and low temperatures. Thus, she spends a minimal amount of energy in the winter cold.

Swamp Cypress

The second type of coniferous tree that sheds its needles for the winter is the swamp cypress or taxodium. It received this name because it grows near swamps in the forest. It was also not by chance that it was called cypress. The spherical cones of this plant strongly resemble the inflorescences of real cypress. The difference is density. The cones of ordinary cypress are hard and strong, but those of taxodium easily crumble in the hands when pressed.

The main feature of the tree is the presence of pneumatophores. They mean the root system, which grows upward rather than downward. From the outside it is an impressive sight. They help the taxodium to breathe, since air penetrates into the shoots through the respiratory roots. This is vital for the tree, since the soil of swamps is not intended for growing plants, and excess water and lack of oxygen can have a detrimental effect on further growth.

Without pneumatophores, Taxodium could not exist. Thanks to them, it grows quietly in areas covered with water for several months. In such conditions, the respiratory roots are located above the water level and supply the swamp cypress with air. The maximum possible height is 3 meters.

There are two types of Taxodium:

Taxodium biserialis;
Taxodium mexicanis.

The birthplace of Taxodium biseriata is the southeast of North America, Mexico. It was brought to Europe in the mid-17th century. Cultivated as a park plant and forest species. Reaches 50 meters in height. Tolerates temperatures down to minus thirty degrees.

The height of an adult tree is 30-45 meters, the trunk in diameter is up to three meters. The needles are bright green. In autumn, the leaves turn red, acquire a golden-orange hue, and then fall off along with the young shoots.

Taxodium Mexicana grows only in Mexico at an altitude of 1400-2300 meters above sea level. The average lifespan of such a tree is 600 years. Some specimens live up to 2000 years. Moreover, their height is 40-50 meters, trunk diameter is 9 meters.

Swamp cypress is a valuable material for building houses and making furniture. Its wood is durable, has good mechanical properties, and is resistant to rotting.

Metasequoia

Belongs to the cypress family. Distributed in areas of Hubei province. Needles up to 3 centimeters in size change color depending on the arrival of a particular time of year. For example, in the spring they are light green, darken in the summer, and turn yellow before falling. They begin to grow late, around the end of May.

Characteristic features of metasequoia:

easily propagated by both cuttings and seeds;
reaches up to 40 meters in height and up to 3 meters in width;
durable - some representatives live up to 600 years;
shade-tolerant, but prefers open places for growth;
common in mountainous areas and along rivers;
unpretentious to temperature conditions, but feels ideal in humid subtropics.

Why does larch shed its needles?

The main reason for shedding needles is to protect oneself in winter. It grows in harsh conditions where other trees no longer grow. By shedding the needles, it gets rid of excess moisture, because the root system does not absorb moisture from the frozen soil. Thus, shedding needles helps to painlessly survive severe frosts in winter.

Features of wintering larch:

shedding of needles begins at the end of September, which allows relatives to live to the north;
with the help of shedding, it protects itself from drying out, which is typical of coniferous trees when the soil freezes in winter;
In winter it goes into a kind of hibernation, development slows down and resumes only in the spring.

Why coniferous trees don't freeze in winter

Every tree absorbs carbon dioxide and produces oxygen. This process is called photosynthesis, which requires bright sunlight and plenty of water. In winter, this can be a problem, because daylight hours become shorter, and moisture is provided only by covered snow.

Conclusion

The pine family includes not only our beloved pine. The pine family includes larch, a tree with needles instead of leaves. They gave larch this name because a tree with needles sheds its needles, like a birch tree, like aspen, poplar, maple and any other deciduous tree. So we answer that the larch remains without needles in the fall. But the larch remains without needles in the second year of its life; in the first year, the larch overwinters with needles. Scientists believe that this is how adaptation to harsh climate occurs.

Different types of larches shed their needles at different times. Observations show that Siberian larch remains without needles by the end of October, American larch remains without needles in November.

Left a reply Guest

Larch sheds all its foliage and needles in the fall. Before falling, the needles turn yellow. Currently, there is reason to believe that the ancestors of our larches were evergreen trees and that their leaf fall is already a secondary adaptation. This is indicated to us, for example, by the fact that the needles on annual larch seedlings usually overwinter and remain until the next of the year; thus this tree, in the earliest phases of its development, for the most part behaves like an evergreen; in nature, we very often encounter the phenomenon that some organ or some feature of the organism, which was present in its ancestors, but was later lost in the process of evolution, manifests itself in the early stages of individual development.

Coniferous trees and their features

Conifers have long and firmly occupied a special place in gardening culture, thanks to their unpretentiousness and durability. Green spaces look spectacular in winter under a cap of snow, which only increases their level of attractiveness.

However, it is worth remembering that not all trees in this group are evergreen. Thus, larch, metasequoia and swamp cypress shed their needles as the temperature drops. In other representatives, the leaves fall off gradually and non-simultaneously. Moreover, the fall does not depend on the season.

The advantages of conifers include:

Actively used in traditional and alternative medicine;
Due to the natural correct shape, there is practically no need to form a crown;
A variety of shapes and types, which makes it possible to use in garden plots of various sizes;
Good tolerance to lack of water and light.

Coniferous trees with needles falling off in winter

But is this the only tree that sheds its needles for the winter? Are there other conifers that behave in a similar way? A person unfamiliar with botany will not answer these questions. Meanwhile, among conifers there are deciduous trees besides larch. Some of them can be seen in the Batumi Botanical Garden.

Here is the first one. In winter, it is very similar in appearance to larch. However, an attentive eye will notice that there is not a single cone on the tree. There are a lot of rhombic, slightly thickened woody plates lying under the tree. Here you can also find winged seeds, reminiscent of pine and spruce seeds, only slightly larger.

It is easy to guess that the rhombic plates are nothing more than scales of cones that have fallen from the tree. Consequently, the cones crumble when ripe, just like real cedar. And if so, then it is not larch (its cones never fall apart and hang “intact” on the branches for a long time). Before us is a completely different plant - Kaempfer's false larch (Pseudolarix kaempferi).

The second deciduous coniferous tree is Taxodium distichum. Its homeland is North America. The tree is named swamp cypress because it often grows in swamps. It is also not called cypress by chance: its spherical cones resemble the cones of a real cypress.

Swamp cypress has the rare ability to develop special respiratory roots, the so-called pneumatophores. Unlike ordinary roots, they grow upward, rising above the ground. Their appearance is very peculiar - thick, woody shoots of a bizarre shape, resembling either skittles or some kind of knotty bottles.

Breathing roots consist of very light, porous wood, although quite strong; there is a channel inside. They are vital for the plant. Through these shoots, air penetrates to the root system of the tree, hidden in the swamp soil. And the soil of swamps is very unfavorable for plant life due to excess water and lack of oxygen.

Views