Deciduous
|
|
| Missing image Deciduous_forest_fall.jpg Deciduous forest after leaf fall |
| Missing image Forsythia_close-up.jpg Like many deciduous plants, Forsythia flowers during the leafless season |
Deciduous means "temporary" or "tending to fall off" (deriving from the Latin word decidere, to fall off).
Botany
In botany, deciduous plants, principally trees and shrubs, are those that lose their foliage for part of the year. In some cases, the foliage loss coincides with the incidence of winter in temperate or polar climates, while others lose their leaves during the dry season in climates with seasonal variation in rainfall. Non-deciduous plants are known as evergreens.
Many deciduous plants flower during the period when they are leafless, as this increases the effectiveness of pollination. The absence of leaves improves wind transmission of pollen in the case of wind-pollinated plants, and increases the visibility of the flowers to insects in insect-pollinated plants. This strategy is not without risks, as the flowers can be damaged by frost, or in dry season areas, result in water stress on the plant.
Anatomy
In anatomy, deciduous teeth, also called milk teeth, are those that fall out during the course of normal development. Other body parts that are shed, such as antlers, are also described as deciduous.da:løvfældende es:caducifolio