Have you ever wondered why leaves start falling in autumn? What about why some very green trees don’t lose any leaves at all? These are very good questions that many people never take the time to answer. You know that little saying, “Ignorance is bliss?” I don’t agree. So, let’s get going. When the days start getting shorter and the leaves get less daylight, the tree triggers a process which slowly sucks the nutrients from the leaf, which kills it, forcing it to fall from the tree. This process is called abscission. This is also the reason why leaves change color. The first thing that the tree absorbs is the leaf’s chlorophyll, which is what makes it green. The leaf then changes its color to yellow, orange, red, and/or brown. To dig deeper, here are five reasons why leaves fall in autumn: 1. To Survive Harsh Weather ConditionsDuring the freezing moths of winter, all the leaves on the trees would freeze and die, which would damage the tree. Instead of simply dying, the leaf gives all of its remaining nutrients the its tree, then glides to the ground, where it will decompose, fertilizing the tree. 2. Helps Pollenate in the SpringIn the spring when all the trees are releasing their pollen, leaves would simply get in the way. With the leaves gone, however, the pollen can easily glide through the air unhindered, thus covering much more ground. 3. Keeps Weight Under Control in the WinterDuring the winter, the leaves would act as a net, catching all the snow that falls. This would cause much damage and many more trees to collapse during the cold, snowy months. 4. Gives them a Fresh StartWith all the old leaves gone, there is space for new leaves to emerge. Leaves are usually very damaged and diseased after autumn, but with them gone, there is room for fresh, new, green leaves to appear. 5. Conserves Energy for the Spring After the tree loses all of its leaves, it becomes dormant during the cold months. With its leaves, however, this couldn’t happen, and the tree would lose energy all winter. But instead, it goes to “sleep” in a way, conserving energy for the spring to come. What about those trees that don't lose their leaves? There are types of trees that lose their leaves, and those that don’t. Deciduous trees are the ones that lose their leaves, and evergreen trees are the ones that don’t. Here is a list of common types of trees in these categories:
Evergreen trees do not need to lose their leaves because they are coated in wax which protects them from the cold. Also, most evergreen leaves don’t hold as much snow, which is why they don’t collapse much in the winter. The reason God created these leaves coated in protective wax and not every tree’s leaves is a mystery. Your homework:Take a look outside. See any trees? Can you tell if it’s a deciduous tree, or an evergreen? Take some time and try to find at least one of each. Maybe you can identify the trees you find? I would love to hear what you found in the comments below.
2 Comments
|
Caleb JamesHi! Welcome to my blog. Get my free eBook!Categories
All
Archives
July 2018
Recent Posts
|