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definition of conifer

Conifer is understood to be all those trees or plants that grow in the shape of a cone and that maintain that shape throughout their existence. Among the conifers we find the trees known as pines and that have this already mentioned shape. Conifers are normally trees or small shrubs whose reproductive structures are called cones (because of the shape they have) and which are also known as cones. Conifers belong to the division Pinophyta and to the class Pinopsida. Conifers are typical of cold and mountain climates, spaces normally covered by abundant forests of pines and other species of conifers.

Conifers belong to the class Pinopsida, within which we can find four important families: both the plants of the Cordaitales family, the Voltziales and those of the Vojnovskyales family are plants that are now extinct. The only family that still remains today is that of the Pinales plants. Within it we can find plants such as pines (Pinaceae), cypress trees (Cupressaceae), yew trees (Taxaceae), the araucarias (Araucariaceae) and other more specific ones.

Most of the conifers are trees with very abundant crowns and whose shape represents a cone. Almost all species of trees and shrubs of this type grow from a central trunk from which branches are born that extend to the sides and form a certain curvature. This type of trees or shrubs is known as monopodial. Conifers are some of the tallest trees known, being able to reach more than 100 meters in height. In some species, the crown is only located at the upper end of the tree and a large parted trunk is uncovered. The famous sequoias (of the family Cupressaceae) are among the tallest and largest trees on the planet. Another important fact is that conifers are perennial trees, which means that they do not lose their foliage despite the passing of the seasons or the change of climate.

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