3. Coniferous trees grow up instead of out like a
deciduous tree and are shaped like a triangle.
The leaves are usually long, pointy needles.
Spruce
Fir
Pine
4. The cones of the conifers are very important to
the coniferous tree because it is there that the
tree makes and shelters its seeds.
Cones are made up of many scales that serve to
protect the seeds.
5. Female cone
Male cone
Most coniferous
trees have both male
and female cones.
Female cones contain
eggs.
Male cones are small
and soft. They
produce (make)
pollen. Once the
pollen is released,
male cones shrivel
and die.
When the egg is
pollinated a seed
develops
6. When it's time, the
Pine cone with seeds. scales of the cone open
and the seeds fall to
the ground.
7. Coniferous trees with their
long needle like leaves thrive
where summers are short and
cool and winters long and
harsh, with heavy snowfall
that can last as long as 6
months.
8. These needles are
pretty amazing
adaptations. It is their
long thin shape and
wax covering that
slows down
evaporation so the tree
doesn't lose much
water. It is this
adaptation that allows
trees with needles to
grow in areas where it
is cold most of the
year and where there
is little precipitation.
9. Conifer trees do lose
their leaves but only a
few at a time and these
are quickly replaced.
Since they generally
live in colder areas of
the world, they always
have some leaves so as
soon as it warms up
and the sun shines, they
can make food.