tree or other plant that sheds all of its foliage annually (contrast with evergreen).

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
deciduous (adjective)
1.
falling off or shed seasonally or at a certain stage of development in the life cycle - deciduous leaves deciduous scales
2.
a) having deciduous parts - maples, birches, and other deciduous trees
b) having the dominant plants deciduous - a deciduous forest
3.
- ephemeral
deciduous (Wikipedia)

Deciduous forrest
Three deciduous forests shown summer, autumn and winter

In the fields of horticulture and botany, the term deciduous (/dɪˈsɪdʒuəs/) means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, after flowering; and to the shedding of ripe fruit.

Generally, the term deciduous means "the dropping of a part that is no longer needed" and the "falling away [of a part] after its purpose is finished". In plants, it is the result of natural processes. "Deciduous" has a similar meaning when referring to animal parts, such as deciduous antlers in deer,deciduous teeth (baby teeth) in some mammals (including humans); or decidua, the uterine lining that sheds off after birth.

Wood from deciduous trees is used in a variety of ways in several industries including lumber for furniture, construction and flooring (oak), ornamental, bowling pins and baseball bats (maple) and furniture, cabinets, plywood and paneling (birch).[relevant? ]

« Back to Glossary Index