Trees are typically categorized into two types, coniferous and deciduous. There are many factors that separate these two families, but the most common and distinctive is the fact that deciduous trees lose their leaves during the cold winter months, and coniferous trees do not. The reason for this change is that the leaves on deciduous trees are wider, allowing more sunlight for photosynthesis. However, this larger leaf area makes the leaf more susceptible to weather conditions such as cold and wind and rain. The leaves are simply more fragile. Coniferous trees are generally firs and evergreens with sharp, pointed leaves, typically called needles. When they shed, they shed only their oldest leaves, and this process is not dependant on the weather.

Coniferous Trees

Coniferous trees are generally referred to as evergreens, due to the fact that they stay green year-round. Their leaves are small and pointed, and often sharp; these are referred to as needles. The most common types of coniferous trees are spruces, firs, and cedars. Coniferous trees produce cones in which their seeds are contained, known as pinecones. Coniferous trees often grow in triangular shapes, and are popular as Christmas trees. They are also important, though, in the production of oil for pine-based cleaning agents and air fresheners.

Many features such as their height, their shape, and the color of their bark can distinguish coniferous trees from one another. However, the most distinguishing factor is the color and texture of the leaves, or needles. Many coniferous trees, such as the Blue Spruce, have very prickly and sharp needles, while others, such as the Douglas Fir, have blunt needles that can be soft to the touch. Some coniferous trees, the Balsam Fir for example, are very fragrant, and these are especially favored for Christmas trees. There are also a few coniferous trees, such as the Tamarack of Minnesota that drop their leaves for the winter months.

Some common examples of coniferous trees are:

 

See the following websites to explore some more facts about coniferous trees:

Deciduous Trees

 

Deciduous trees lose all their leaves during the winter months of the year. Some common species of deciduous trees are maple, oak, birch, and elm. Some ways in which the trees are classified are the shape of the leaves, the bark, and the seeds. Many deciduous plants flower during the time preceding that when they grow their leaves. This aids in pollination, both by attracting pollinating insects, and by allowing the wind to pick off petals and seeds and disperse them away from the tree to other parts of the area. The broadness of the leaf on the deciduous tree allows for greater photosynthesis than those on the coniferous tree. However, as noted previously, this increases the fragility of the plant as well.

Deciduous trees are divided into four large groups, and this is one of the best ways to distinguish one from the other. There are those trees that have simple leaves, and those that have compound leaves. In each of those categories, there are those that have leaves opposite one another on the twig, and those that have leaves alternating up the length of the twig. Another way to distinguish one from the other is the size and shape of the leaf as well as the color of the leaf when they turn in the autumn months before falling for the winter.

Some common examples of deciduous trees are:

 

See the following websites to explore some more facts about deciduous trees:

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