Conifers of California

What is a Conifer?

The name ‘conifer’ comes from Latin and means ‘cone bearing’. All conifers bear their male and female reproductive

organs in separate cones (strobili) rather than in flowers.

Most conifers are evergreen trees and shrubs. There are a very few

exceptions.

The conifers belong to the group of seed plants known as the

gymnosperms. Gymnosperm literally means ‘naked seed’. This is

the main characteristic which differentiates them from the more

advanced flowering plants (angiosperms) which bear their seeds encased in an ovary that

becomes the fruit.

Trees usually bear both male and female cones. Male cones produce pollen grains which are transported to the female cones by wind. The seeds subsequently develop within the

female cones.

Magnified young female cone

Leaf Types in ConifersScales: tiny, like roofing shingles Awl: triangular in cross-section, like the tool for sail-makingLinear: long and narrow, also known as short-needleNeedle: really long and really narrow, also known as long-needle

Female cone types

In some genera, such as Juniperus (juniper) and Taxus (yew) these may be fleshy.

The foliage of conifers is either needle-like or scale-like.

Conifer Families in California

• Pinaceae—Pine Family• Cupressaceae—Cypress Family• Taxaceae—Yew Family

Pine Family in CaliforniaPinaceae

• Abies—true firs• Picea--spruces• Pinus—pines• Pseudotsuga—Douglas-firs• Tsuga--hemlocks

Pine Family in California

Abies—true firs• Erect cones with deciduous scales• Linear leaves (needles)

attached singly

Pine Family in CaliforniaPicea—spruces• Pendant cones• Linear leaves (needles)

on pegs

Pine Family in CaliforniaPinus—pines•Pendant , woody, persistent cones•Needles in bundles

Pine Family in CaliforniaPseudotsuga—Douglas-firs•Pendant , woody, persistent cones with exserted 3-toothed bracts•Linear, single needles

Pine Family in CaliforniaTsuga—hemlocks•Pendant , woody, persistent cones•Droopy leader

Cypress Family in CaliforniaCupressaceae

Cypress Family in CaliforniaCupressaceae

•Calocedrus—incense-cedar•Chamaecyparis—whitecedar•Cupressus—cypresses•Juniperus—junipers•Sequoia—coast redwood•Sequoiadendron—giant sequoia•Thuja--arborvitae

Cypress Family in California

Calocedrus decurrens, incense-cedarscale-like leaves, duck-bill cones

Cypress Family in California

ChamaecyparisScale-like leaves, sphaerical cones, droopy leader

Cypress Family in California

CupressusScale-like leaves, stiff branches, spherical woody cones

Cypress Family in California

JuniperusScale-like or awl-like leaves, berry-like cones

Cypress Family in California

SequoiaLinear or awl-like leaves, small woody cones

Cypress Family in California

Sequoiadendronawl-like leaves, small woody cones

Cypress Family in California

Thuja plicata, western redcedarscale-like leaves, small woody cones

Yew Family in CaliforniaTaxaceae

Taxus brevifolia—Pacific yew• Linear leaves, red juicy aril, purplish bark

Yew Family in CaliforniaTaxaceae

Torreya californica—California-nutmeg• Linear spine-tipped leaves, olive-shaped

aril

Identifying Conifers of California—key characters

•Female cones—shape, woody vs. fleshy, persistent vs. deciduous; bract shape•Leaf type(s)—linear, needles, scales, awls•Growth habit—tree, shrub, subshrub; stiff or droopy branches, flat or 3D branches•Bark—fibrous, furrowed, platy, jigsaw puzzle pieces, color•Geographic range•Habitat

http://www.conifercountry.com/conifers.htm

Conifers of the Klamath Region