What do conifer leaves look like?

Both evergreen and deciduous leaves exhibit characteristic broad blades in angiosperms, and narrow needle, scale-like, or awl-shaped leaves in the conifers. The awl-shape and scale-like foliage of Juniperus spp. exhibits leaf dimorphism where a juvenile leaf form differs from the mature leaves of the same plant.

Why are conifer leaves shaped like needles?

Conifers, or cone-bearing trees, evolved to have needles that retain more water and seeds that could hang out until there was enough moisture to take root. Needles have lower wind resistance than big, flat leaves, so they’re less likely to make the tree fall over during a big storm.

Do conifers leaves?

The leaves of many conifers are known as needles, for their slender form as well as their pointy tips. Other conifers grow scale-like leaves—the Western Red-Cedar (Thuja plicata) is a local example. In either case, conifer leaves are compact.

What is a fir leaf?

The firs are distinguished from other genera in the pine family by their leaves. The needlelike leaves of a true fir grow directly from the branch, and the needles’ bases, which are shaped like suction cups, leave conspicuous circular scars when the leaves fall.

What are needle leaves?

Needle-leaf trees, or conifers, have long, thin leaves that resemble needles. The leaves remain on the tree year-round and are replaced slowly and continuously rather than all at once. The smaller, tighter needles are more waterproof and wind tight than the larger, wider leaves found on broadleaf or deciduous trees.

What are leafy trees called?

Deciduous Trees
When we think of fall in the Midwest, we imagine many beautiful red, yellow, and orange leafed trees all around us. These leafy, round trees belong to the deciduous family. Deciduous trees grow their leaves during the spring and lose them during the winter.

What is the scientific name of conifer?

Pinophyta
Conifers/Scientific names
The conifers, division Pinophyta, also known as division Coniferae, are one of 13 or 14 division level taxa within the Kingdom Plantae. They are cone-bearing seed plants with vascular tissue; all extant conifers are woody plants, the great majority being trees with just a few being shrubs.

What is a cedar leaf?

common name for a number of trees, mostly coniferous evergreens. common name for members of the Pinaceae, a family of resinous woody trees with needlelike, usually evergreen leaves. The Pinaceae reproduce by means of cones (see cone) rather than flowers and many have winged seeds, suitable for wind distribution.

Are fir and pine the same?

Although both fir and pine trees are conifers, bearing cones, and members of the same plant family, Pinaceae, their plant group names are different. Fir trees are members of the genus Abies; whereas pine trees belong to Pinus.

Do coniferous trees have leaves?

Coniferous trees have small, waxy and usually narrow leaves (needles or flat scales). ‘Coniferous’ means that it is a cone-bearing tree. Laurel, acacia and eucalyptus are also evergreens, and although not deciduous, they are not cone-bearing trees (they also definitely have leaves rather than needles).