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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;
- 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 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 yourself 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
To retain moisture during the cold season, coniferous trees shed their needles for the winter. This process allows you to survive the harsh cold and renew the needles. These trees include larch, taxodium and metasequoia.
