The Open Door Web Site

Other Ways of Surviving Winter

Rhizomes

Some plants, such as the fern, survive the winter as an underground stem called a rhizome.

Diagram of a rhizome © Shirley Burchill

1 = The fern's leaves above ground die during the winter months
2 = New shoots will be able to grow in the spring using the food energy stored in the rhizome

Survival Above Ground for an Evergreen

Some trees lose their leaves in the winter. Pine trees do not. The pine needles survive throughout the winter.

Observe a pine needle and describe the characteristics that will allow it to survive over winter.

Pine needles © Paul Billiet

The needles of a pine tree.
Where are pine trees found?
Give the climate, biome, geographic region?
 

Deciduous and evergreen trees © Paul Billiet

Trees which lose their leaves in winter are called deciduous trees. Those which keep their leaves or needles all year are called evergreen trees. The photograph shows examples of both. The evergreens are in the background and the deciduous trees in the foreground have lost their leaves for winter.

Survival Above Ground for a Deciduous Tree

   

Chestnut tree buds in winter © Paul Billiet

 Detail of a chestnut bud © Paul Billiet

In autumn, the chestnut tree drops its leaves and the tree becomes dormant for the winter. Already the buds can be seen from which the next year's leaves will grow. This is how the chestnut tree prepares to survive winter.

© Paul Billiet, Shirley Burchill, Alan Damon and Deborah James 2009