Which of the following trees sheds its leaves annually?

The correct choice pertains to trees classified as deciduous. Deciduous trees are characterized by their annual shedding of leaves in response to seasonal changes, particularly in temperate climates. This process allows the tree to conserve water and energy during the colder months when the sunlight is less intense and temperatures drop. As a strategy for survival, deciduous trees undergo a transformation where they prepare for winter by halting photosynthesis and entering a dormant state, leading to leaf loss.

In contrast, conifers, which include trees such as pines, retain their needle-like leaves year-round, adapting to colder conditions through a different mechanism, while sedges are not trees at all, but rather grass-like plants that also do not fit the description. This distinction in leaf retention strategies highlights the defining feature of deciduous trees and their annual cycle of leaf shedding.