Deciduous and Coniferous Trees Types of Trees Deciduous and Coniferous Trees

Deciduous and Coniferous Trees Deciduous trees Also known as hardwoods or broadleaves trees Coniferous trees As known as softwood or needle leaved trees

Deciduous trees - characteristics Give us hardwood timber Lose their leaves in autumn – except holly Trunk divides to develop large branches Large broad leaves Generally grow more slowly Usually harder and more durable wood Branches are generally larger and more irregular than connifers

Coniferous trees - characteristics Give us softwood timber Evergreen - except larch Have a straight trunk Smaller branches Needle like leaves Seeds borne in pine cones Symmetrical in shape Grow quickly Wood is usually softer and less durable than hardwood

Irish Hardwoods Irish Softwood Oak Ash Beech Sycamore Elm Birch Horse chestnut Scots pine Douglas Fir Norway spruce Sitka Spruce Larch

Oak Take 120 years to mature Grow to height of 40 metres Fruit (seed) is called acorn Durable, Light coloured wood ease to work with Uses: Furniture Doors Flooring Barrels Boat building

Ash Take 60 years to mature Grow to height of 40 metres Pliable, tough Light white coloured wood difficult to work with Uses: Furniture Hurleys Oars Tool handles

Beech Grow to height of 36 metres Durable, reddish to brown coloured wood Uses: Furniture Doors Flooring Tool handles

Sycamore Take 200 years to mature Grow to height of 35 metres Strong creamy white coloured wood which is ease to work with Uses: Wood carving Woodturning Violin making veneers

Sitka Spruce Take 40 years to mature Grow to height 45 metres Shallow root system, thrives on wet soil (bogs) Forms 75% of trees planted in Ireland annually Known as white deal Fairly durable with a pale brown colour Uses: Structural timber Paper making floorboard

Norway Spruce Grow to height 40 metres Shallow root system, thrives on damp fertile soil Forms 4% of trees planted in Ireland annually Also known as white deal not durable with a white to cream colour Uses: Christmas trees Internal joinery plywood

Douglas Fir Cone shaped Grow to height 55 metres Likes light therefore branches are scarce Tough, durable wood with a reddish- brown colour Uses: Railway sleepers Telephone poles Plywood manufacture

Scots Pine Shape is not typical – tall with a few large branches Grow to height 40 metres Slow growing not commerically planted any longer Known as red deal Strong and durable with a bright yellow colour Uses: Roof frames Telegraph poles Fence posts

Other timbers Some timbers cannot grow in Ireland due to our climate They grow in tropical areas where they grow year around, as a result they do not have annual rings Examples include: Mahogany Ebony Teak Walnut Balsa