Conifers are some of the most incredible trees on the planet. We are going to list some facts you know, and some you don’t. Here are 13 amazing facts about conifers.
First, we have to define, What is a conifer?
A conifer is a tree that has needle-like, or scale-like, leaves and bears pinecones.
You may have heard of pine, spruce and cedar...but that is just the tip of the species iceberg. There are over 630 species of conifers.
Conifers are some of the toughest trees on the planet and can tolerate the harshest environments. They can grow in the crevices of cliffs, and some will even grow above the frigid arctic circle. Fact #10 will explain why.
Conifers come in all different sizes, from the small 1-ft Alberta Globe, which grow about 1-in per year, to the giant 400-ft Redwoods. Redwoods are considered the tallest and largest (in terms of wood volume) trees in the world.
Conifers come in many colors of the rainbow, not just green. Depending on the time of year, they can be bronze, yellow or even a bluish hue.
Most Conifers are evergreen meaning they keep their needles all year long. But there are five genuses, which are deciduous (that means they lose their leaves). One of those is Western Larch, which is common to NE Washington.
One of the most prized trees known for its pleasing aroma and ability to resist rot is the cedar tree. Washington grows a lot of it with its Western Red Cedar species.
Conifers have a lifespan ranging from a few hundred years up to over 4,000 years.
Most conifers bear both male and female cones on the same plant. All are wind-pollinated. Pollinated cones ripen over the course of weeks, and the seeds are then dispersed either by being dropped, eaten or carried away by animals.
The main function of a pine cone is to keep a pine tree’s seeds safe. Pine cones close their scales to protect the seeds from cold temperatures, wind and even animals that might try to eat them. Pine cones open up and release their seeds when it is warm marking it is easier for the seeds to germinate.
Most conifers are ideally designed to survive cold winters. Downward sloping limbs help shed snow in cold, northern climates where the weight of snow could easily snap a branch. Likewise, the needles are typically smooth and waxy to help snow slide off. To better deal with the cold, conifers can move water out of their cells to the spaces in between. This means that when the water freezes, the trees’ cells remain intact rather than being destroyed by the ice. This means conifers can keep their leaves all year long.
Coniferous forests are clean - very clean. Often the uniform trees and relatively clear forest floor combine to lower airborne bacteria resulting in an ultra fresh environment. In Victorian times, many sanatoriums and other medical facilities were built in or near forests to offer clean air to their patients.
Many coniferous trees have the ability to patch themselves up. If they are attacked by a burrowing insect, the tree can secrete a scented, gummy resin that fills over the hole and hardens thereby protecting the tree from further damage.
Conifers are the primary source of the commercial softwood timber, which is used in home construction across the United States & Canada.
We hope you enjoyed this video on amazing facts about Conifers.
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