Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off" (deriving from the Latin word, to fall off) and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe. In a more specific sense deciduous means the dropping of a part that's no longer needed, or falling away after its purpose is finished. In plants it's the result of natural processes; in other fi… (More on Deciduous)