The main characteristics of conifers
LEAVES
Conifers have leaves known as: “needles” or “scales”.
The appearance of the needles varies depending on the species.
Linear leaves
These can be short or long, with a pointed tip like a sewing needle.
Acicular leaves
These are more or less flat, with a blunt tip.
Scale-like leaves
Scales are generally flat and very short, tightly packed together.
Most conifers are evergreens. They remain green in all seasons because the leaves live for several years and are not all shed at the same time in autumn, unlike broad-leaved trees.
These conifers replace their leaves by shedding them gradually throughout the year and growing new needles or scales.
However, certain species (e.g.: Larch) have “deciduous” foliage, like board-leaved trees. Their leaves turn yellow in autumn and are all shed at the same time, leaving the tree leafless throughout winter. These conifers renew their leaves each year.
Blossom
The blossom can be male or female and has no petals.
These can be found on the same plant (monoecious species) or on two different plants (dioecious species).
Most conifers are monoecious species.
Female inflorescences
These are made up of soft scales that overlap in bright colours, forming a sort of immature cone (known as a strobilus), which contains the reproduction organs (ovules). The ovules are not enclosed in an ovary.
Male cones
Generally smaller than the female cones, these contain the powdery pollen that is transported by the wind.
Once fertilised, the female cones develop into mature cones that contain the actual seeds, while the male inflorescences dry out and fall once the pollen has been released.
Cones
The cones, often referred to as the “fruit” of the conifer, are not strictly speaking actual fruit. In botany, the fruit is the organ that contains the seeds and which results from the development of the ovary after fertilisation. However, gymnosperms have no ovary.
Most mature cones have ligneous scales with the seeds at the base. However, the size, shape and colour vary considerably from one species to another.
The scales can be fleshy, giving the fruit the appearance of a berry (e.g.: Juniper). In the Yew, the seeds are isolated and surrounded by a covering known as “aril”.
Once they have reached a certain stage of maturity, the cones open spreading their scales (e.g.: Pine) or disarticulating, scale by scale (e.g.: Fir, Cedar), allowing the seeds to fall and spread.
The seeds are often winged for better dispersal by the wind. Others are ingested by animals and pass in their excrement.
Wood
Conifers are ligneous or “woody” plants.
