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A coniferous tree sheds needles for 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, botanists will not agree with this statement.
A coniferous tree that sheds its needles
Coniferous trees are characterized by a periodic change of needles. This is a gradual renewal of trees, which does not occur in a specific season, but throughout the year. Coniferous trees that shed their needles include:
- larch;
- taxodium;
- metasequoia.
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 the diameter of the trunk is 1 meter. But dozens of decorative forms have been bred, including dwarf ones, which will decorate the garden without taking up much space. They plant it in public places in several groups, in alleys or in yards. Unlike other representatives, the needles are not sharp, soft and break easily when pressed. At the same time, the wood of this conifer 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 drops its needles for the winter. This feature appeared as a result of its adaptation to a harsh climate and low temperatures. Thus, it spends a minimum amount of energy in the winter cold.
swamp cypress
The second type of coniferous tree that sheds its needles for the winter is swamp cypress or taxodium. It got this name due to the fact that it grows next to the swamps in the forest. It is no coincidence that it was also called cypress. The spherical cones of this plant strongly resemble the inflorescences of a real cypress. The difference is in density. In ordinary cypress, the cones are hard and strong, while in taxodium, they easily crumble in the hands when pressed.
The main feature of the tree is the presence of pneumatophores. They understand the root system, which does not grow down, but up. From the outside it is an impressive sight. They help the taxodium to breathe, as air enters the processes through the respiratory roots. This is vital for the tree, since the soil of the swamps is not intended for growing plants, and excess water and lack of oxygen can have a detrimental effect on further growth.
Taxodium would not exist without pneumatophores. 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 two-row;
- taxodium mexican.
The homeland of the double-row taxodium is the southeast of North America, Mexico. It was brought to Europe in the middle of the 17th century. Cultivated as a park plant and forest species. Reaches 50 meters in height. It 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, then fall off along with young shoots.
Mexican taxodium grows only in Mexico at an altitude of 1400-2300 meters above sea level. The average life expectancy of such a tree is 600 years. Some specimens live up to 2000 years. At the same time, their height is 40-50 meters, the diameter of the trunk is 9 meters.
Swamp cypress is a valuable material for the construction of houses, in the manufacture of furniture. Its wood is durable, has good mechanical properties, and is resistant to decay.
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 season. For example, in spring they are light green, darken in summer, and turn yellow before falling off. They begin to grow late, around the end of May.
Characteristic features of metasequoia:
- easy to propagate 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;
- distributed in mountainous areas and along rivers;
- unpretentious to temperature conditions, but feels ideal in the humid subtropics.
Why larch sheds needles
The main reason for shedding needles is to protect yourself in the winter. It grows in harsh environments where other trees no longer grow. Dropping needles, it gets rid of excess moisture, because the root system does not absorb moisture from frozen soil. Thus, dropping needles helps to painlessly survive severe frosts in winter.
Features of larch wintering:
- dropping of needles begins at the end of September, which allows living to the north of relatives;
- with the help of shedding, it protects itself from drying out, which is characteristic of coniferous trees when the soil freezes in winter;
- in winter falls into a kind of hibernation, development slows down and resumes only in the spring.
Why don’t conifers freeze in winter?
Each tree absorbs carbon dioxide and produces oxygen. This process is called photosynthesis, which requires bright sunlight and abundant watering. In winter, this can be a problem, because daylight hours become shorter, and moisture is provided only by covered snow.
Conclusion
To conserve moisture during the cold season, the conifer sheds needles for the winter. This process allows you to survive the harsh cold and renew the needles. These trees include larch, taxodium and metasequoia.