The primary distinction between hardwood and softwood is based on the reproductive biology of the tree species.
What ids the main defference between hardwood and softwood.
Softwood trees are known as a gymnosperm.
Were really confused because not only did they find the super light hardwood species basswood and cottonwood but they found some of the continent s heaviest softwood of which four species longleaf slash shortleaf and loblolly pine are now marketed under the unifying moniker of southern yellow.
Aka cj also known as red fir spruce was called fir before the botanical.
Hardwood trees are angiosperms plants that produce seeds with some sort of covering.
The key difference between hardwoods and softwoods however is that the former grows seed filled flowers whereas the latter grows seed filled cones.
All trees reproduce by producing seeds but the seed structure varies.
This classification is based solely on the botanical classification of its reproduction method.
More specifically the type of seeds produced by a tree determines whether it is hardwood or softwood.
Softwood comes from trees like spruce or pine.
Wikimedia commons the reason why we have included this wood in our list of softwoods is that people tend to consider.
The physical hardness of a tree doesn t determine whether it s a hardwood or softwood.
The distinction between hardwood and softwood actually has to do with plant reproduction.
Continue reading to find out more about the primary differences between hardwood and softwood.
As you can see these two wood types are separated in botany according to their reproduction method.
The main difference between both kinds of woods is that hardwood is the wood that is attained from angiosperms flowering plants and softwood is attained from gymnosperms.
This might be a fruit such as an apple or a hard shell such as an acorn.
Hardwood comes from angiosperm or flowering plants such as oak maple or walnut that are not monocots.
In contrast trees with seeds that are not enclosed are softwood.
Softwood comes from gymnosperm trees usually evergreen conifers like pine or spruce.
In general hardwood comes from a deciduous tree which loses its leaves annually and softwood comes from a conifer which usually remains evergreen.
But the folks harvesting the southern u s.
Hardwood comes from trees such as maple and walnut.
Trees with seeds that are enclosed such as within a shell or fruit are categorized as hardwood.
The primary difference between hardwood and softwood trees in a landscape is that hardwoods shed their leaves once a year whereas softwood trees retain their leaves throughout the year.