What are trees in colder climates “doing” during the winter time when everything is frozen and they have no leaves? Are they hibernating?
In: 267
Basically, yes.
The leaves and sap can’t function properly in cold temperatures, and they would freeze, cresting ice crystals that would puncture the cells, killing them all. By basically shutting down, they save a ton of resources not trying to keep their leaves alive or pump nutrients around.
Evergreen trees use their needle-like leaves and an antifreeze protein in their sap to keep their leaves all year long.
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