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A coniferous tree sheds needles for the winter in order to protect itself from winter frosts, to retain moisture. With the word "coniferous" comes the association with plants that remain evergreen, such as Christmas trees. However, botanists would disagree with this statement.
The coniferous tree that sheds 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. Needle-dropping conifers include:
- larch;
- taxodium;
- metasequoia.
Larch
A deciduous coniferous tree that is native to 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 trunk diameter is 1 meter. But dozens of decorative forms, including dwarf ones, have been bred, 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. Moreover, 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 needles for the winter. This feature appeared as a result of its adaptation to the harsh climate and low temperatures. Thus, she spends a minimum amount of energy in the winter cold.
Swamp cypress
The second type of coniferous tree that sheds needles for the winter is marsh cypress or taxodium. It got this name due to the fact that it grows next to swamps in the forest. It was also called cypress for a reason. The spherical cones of this plant strongly resemble the inflorescences of a real cypress. The difference is density. In ordinary cypress, the cones are firm and strong, while in the taxodium they easily crumble in the hands when pressed.
The main feature of the tree is the presence of pneumatophores. They are understood as a root system that 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 designed for growing plants, and an excess of water and a lack of oxygen can have a detrimental effect on further growth.
Taxodium could 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 bog cypress with air. The maximum possible height is 3 meters.
There are two types of taxodiums:
- taxodium two-row;
- taxodium Mexican.
The birthplace of the two-rowed taxodium is the southeast of North America, Mexico. It was introduced to Europe in the middle of the 17th century. Cultivated as a park plant and forest species. Reaches 50 meters in height. Transfers temperatures up to minus thirty degrees.
The height of an adult tree is 30-45 meters, the trunk is up to three meters in diameter. The needles are bright green. In autumn, the leaves turn red, acquire a golden-orange hue, then fall off along with young shoots.
The Mexican taxodium 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, 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, in summer they darken, and before falling off they turn yellow. They start growing late, around the end of May.
The salient features of the metasequoia are:
- easy to propagate both by 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 perfect in humid subtropics.
Why does larch shed needles
The main reason for dropping needles is to protect yourself in the winter. It grows in harsh conditions where other trees no longer grow. Dropping needles, it gets rid of excess moisture, because the root system does not absorb moisture from the frozen soil. Thus, dropping the needles helps to painlessly survive the severe frosts in winter.
Features of wintering larch:
- dropping of needles begins at the end of September, which allows them to live north of their relatives;
- with the help of shedding, it protects itself from drying out, which is characteristic of conifers 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 conifers don't freeze in winter
Every 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 the daylight hours become shorter, and moisture is provided only by covered with snow.
Conclusion
To retain moisture in the cold season, the coniferous tree sheds needles for the winter. This process allows you to survive the harsh cold weather and renew your needles. These trees include larch, taxodium and metasequoia.
