Deciduous plant

A plant that sheds its leaves seasonally, usually in response to cold or dry conditions. Seasonal leaf loss limits water loss and damage during unfavorable periods.

Abscission: The regulated separation of a plant part from the rest of the plant. An abscission zone forms at the leaf base and releases each leaf.
Leaf: A plant organ specialized primarily for photosynthesis and gas exchange. Deciduousness is defined by the seasonal loss of this organ.
Temperate deciduous forest: A forest biome dominated by trees that shed their leaves in autumn or during dry seasons. Seasonal leaf loss defines the canopy rhythm of this forest biome.
Evergreen plant: A plant that retains functional foliage throughout the year, though individual leaves may still be replaced. Evergreens retain foliage through unfavorable seasons instead of shedding it all at once.
Photoperiodism: A biological response to the relative lengths of day and night. Changing day length helps trigger autumn leaf senescence and shedding.
Stomata: Microscopic pores in plant surfaces that regulate gas exchange and water loss. Leaves lose water through stomata, making their retention costly during drought.
Tropical dry forest: A tropical forest with a pronounced dry season and many trees that lose leaves during drought. Its trees often shed leaves when seasonal water scarcity makes foliage costly.
Semi-deciduous plant: A plant that loses some, but not all, of its foliage during an unfavorable season. It occupies an intermediate strategy between complete seasonal leaf loss and year-round foliage.
Leaf senescence: The regulated aging of a leaf, involving the breakdown and recycling of its contents. Senescence reclaims nutrients before the leaf is shed.
Xylem: Vascular tissue that transports water and dissolved minerals from roots through a plant. Water supply constrains leaf function during freezing or dry seasons.

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