Plant Life in the Deciduous Forest
Unlike evergreens, deciduous trees shed their leaves in the fall. Temperate forests populated chiefly by deciduous trees are common in Europe, the Eastern United States, and some regions of Asia and Australia. Does this Spark an idea?
-
Types
-
Trees like oak, beech, maple and sycamore are plentiful in deciduous forests. Typically, the forest contains a canopy and beneath it a couple levels of understory trees; shrubs and wildflowers grow along the forest floor. The wildflowers typically bloom early in the spring.
Spring and Summer
-
Summer is the time of peak productivity in a deciduous forest. The combination of long days and warm temperatures spurs plant growth, although the lush leaves of the trees block out much of the sunlight, so the forest floor is often barren at this time of year. Plants that grow along the floor generally flourish in the spring before the trees leaf out fully.
-
Winter
-
In the fall, the trees lose their leaves and with the onset of cold temperatures in winter the forest becomes barren. This time of year is an important one, however, because bacteria and other organisms are working through the fall, winter and spring to break down remains of leaves and dead plants. In this decomposing process, they return nutrients to the soil that will help to fuel spring and summer's lush growth.
-
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
