All Trees Do Not Shed Their Leaves In Winter

All trees do not shed their leaves in winter. Some have special defenses which enable them to withstand to snow and ice. These trees are known as evergreen. One of the most common examples is the fir tree, which is also known as Christmas tree.

Fir trees look extremely pretty when they are covered in snow.  Snow does not remain on them for long. The branches of the fir trees naturally bend underweight. When the snow becomes too heavy, the branch hangs downwards and the snow slides off. This is how the fir tree protects itself against the weight of snow, which otherwise would crush the tree.

The leaves of conifers are as thin as needle and covered in a special substance which protects them from frost. This substance also prevents excessive evaporation of moisture from the leaf. When the branch of a conifer is broken, the wound is soon covered with a waterproof resin which heals the scar. Conifers include some of our most useful plants. More than three quarters of commercial timber is obtained from them and a large amount of coniferous wood is used as pulp in the manufacture of paper.