Final answer:
Plants with a life cycle extending beyond two years are known as perennials. They can live and flower for many years and are distinct from annuals and biennials.
Step-by-step explanation:
Any plant having a life cycle of more than 2 years is known as a perennial. Perennials, such as the magnolia, have life spans that extend beyond two years. Unlike annual plants like Arabidopsis, which complete their lifecycle in one growing season, or biennials like carrots that take two seasons to complete their lifecycle, perennials can live and flower over many years.
Some well-known perennials include fruit trees (e.g., apple and orange trees) that are polycarpic, flowering several times over their lifespan. Deciduous plants, however, are not defined by the length of their life cycle but by their seasonal leaf-shedding habits.