Coniferous vs. Deciduous

What are the differences?

Coniferous Forests

• Coniferous forests are trees that grow needles instead of leaves, and cones instead of flowers. Conifers tend to be evergreen which means they have needles all year long.

Types of Conifers

• Spruce Pine Fir

Coniferous Forests

• Coniferous forest are also known as boreal forest or Taiga.

• They are the largest terrestrial biome on earth. It spans from North America, Europe, Asia, all the way to the southern border of Antarctica.

• Found in areas with long, cold winters and mild summers.

Deciduous Forests

• Deciduous trees are those that lose all of their leaves for part of the year.

• In temperate climates this happens in the winter. In tropical and arid climates this happens during the dry season.

Types of Deciduous Trees

• There are many different types of deciduous trees. The most popular in the United States are maples, oaks, birches, gums, beeches, and poplars.

Maple Oak

Birch Gum

Beech

Deciduous Forests

• Found in the United States, Canada, Europe, China, Japan, and parts of Russia.

• Most produce sap to keep their roots alive during colder weather.

• Did you know that the Deciduous forest is the most altered of any habitat on Earth?

What kind of tree is it?

• Ever wondered what kind of tree you are looking at? Use this “Tree Key” and find out for yourself

• http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/veg/treekey/treestart.htm