5 differences between evergreen and deciduous
Answers
Answer:
- Flowering and pollination
- Survival
- leaf appearance
- habitat and distribution
- losing leaves
- energy requirements
Broad Explanation:
Losing Leaves
The first and the most apparent difference between the two types of trees is that deciduous trees lose their foliage or some other part of their structure as the seasons change. The reason for this is that these trees grow in regions where the conditions are harsh. Therefore, to preserve nutrients, these trees have to reduce energy usage in winter and autumn. On the other hand, evergreen trees do not lose their foliage at once as the seasons change since they grow in regions where the climate is not as harsh. However, evergreen trees replace their leaves slowly as they age although the speed of replacement varies from one evergreen tree to another.
Energy Requirements
Another apparent difference is that evergreen trees require higher amounts of nutrients for survival compared to deciduous trees, especially during bad weather conditions. The reason for this higher energy requirement is that evergreen trees do not shed their leaves at that time. As such, the plant needs more nutrients to ensure that its body parts are not damaged and stay in good condition. By comparison, deciduous trees have low energy needs during harsh climatic conditions but have a hike in nutrient requirements immediately after harsh weather during the renewal of foliage.
Leaf Appearance
Deciduous trees have broader leaves compared to evergreen trees. These broader leaves ensure that the plant manufactures as much food as possible during summer and fall so that it has enough sustenance during winter and autumn. Just before the leaves fall, the leaves of deciduous trees lose the ability to manufacture food and lose their green color. By comparison, evergreen trees never lose the green color of their leaves and have comparatively smaller leaves. In terms of the timber they produce, deciduous trees tend to produce hardwoods while softwoods are mostly obtained from evergreen trees.
Habitat and Distribution
In terms of the places where they grow, evergreen trees mostly grow in tropical rainforests while deciduous trees grow in temperate forests or in tropical and subtropical forests. Deciduous trees growing in temperate forests are mainly affected by climate changes, such as temperature and rainfall. Deciduous trees growing in tropical and subtropical deciduous forests are mainly affected by changes in the rainfall patterns. In other words, deciduous trees can survive in regions where evergreen trees grow while evergreens cannot survive in some of the harsh climates where deciduous trees grow. Deciduous trees can survive in places where the temperatures go below -15°F. Since the two types of trees can grow side by side, it is not unusual to some sections of a forest with trees that have leaves while other sections have trees without leaves.
Flowering and Pollination
For the majority of deciduous trees, flowering usually occurs during the time when they are leafless in order to increase the chances of pollination. Leaves usually hinder pollination due to the blockages that pollen has to encounter before reaching a flower. The absence of leaves also ensures that pollinating insects see the flowers easily. By comparison, flowering for evergreen trees happens when leaves are present.
Survival
When these two types of trees grow together, evergreens have the ability to ensure their survival since they make the soil more saline and lower the nitrogen content. These conditions, including the protection offered by the canopy, are favorable for the growth of evergreens and not deciduous plants.