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Chapter 1: Forests of North America
Deciduous Forests
The trees in a
deciduous
forest lose their leaves each autumn. They pass the winter
with no leaves, only to grow new ones in the spring. Elms, oaks, maples, and ash are
all deciduous trees. In North America, deciduous forests are found in regions in the
East—from Texas to Minnesota, and Florida to Maine—and in a small area in Canada
around the Great Lakes.
A deciduous forest receives between 30 and 60 inches (76–152 centimeters) of
precipitation
each year. These forests have four unique and specific seasons each year:
summer, fall, winter, and spring. As the seasons change, so do the trees.
Other types of plants are found in the deciduous forest. The soils on the forest
floor are very rich and fertile, making it the perfect environment for small plants such
as wildflowers, mosses, and lichens to grow. A layer of smaller trees and shrubs can be
found in the forest as well, under the larger trees.
A deciduous forest is home to many different types of wildlife. White-tailed deer,
black bears, turkeys, opossums, skunks, raccoons, and foxes all make a deciduous
forest their home. Smaller mammals like squirrels and chipmunks share the forest
floor with toads, frogs, and salamanders.
There are many natural resources found in a deciduous forest, and timber is by
far the most important. Hardwoods like maple and oak are popular flooring options
Hardwoods and
Softwoods
The term
hardwood
does
not necessarily mean
that a particular wood is
harder than another. In fact,
there are
soft hardwoods
,
such as balsa, and
hard
softwoods
, such as yew.
The terms are used to
describe the biology of the
tree and the way that the
wood is formed.
Model airplanes are often made from balsa wood.
Even though balsa is called a hardwood, it is
actually quite soft and lightweight.