What Is a Conifer Tree?

Conifer trees are the oldest living things on earth as well as some of the largest. This group of trees is very ancient, appearing during the Carboniferous period -- from 354 to 290 million years ago -- along with the pelycosaurs, the ancestor of birds, animals and reptiles. Since then, this type of tree has developed and expanded on a general theme, creating several species and populating many parts of the world.

Biologically speaking, conifers are any plants that belong to the pinophyta phylum in taxonomy. In fact, pinophyta is also sometimes called coniferophyta. These plants are characterized by a number physical, genetic and behavioral attributes that bind them together as one group and distinguish them from different groups such as ginkophyta and magnoliophyta, or flowering plants.

Conifers are gymnosperms, meaning they do not produce flowers, but instead create seeds on a different transport catalyst. In conifers, this object is the cone. Cones can be male or female, and most conifers have both male and female cones on the same tree. The plant sends pollen from the male cones to the female cones' receptors using the wind. Once the pollen reaches the cone, the fertilized seed begins to form. Then, the cone drops and, if it can find a suitable place to deposit seed, begins its own growth cycle.

Conifers are not broad-leaved plants, but instead carry needles. Needles often appear as needle-like points that stick out from the tree branches, as in a Christmas tree or in a pine tree. Other conifers have needles that appear scaly like those of the cypress. Different species arrange needles in different configurations, some placing needles on opposite sides of the stem while others line all four sides of their stem with densely packed needles, like a bottle brush. These needles are hardier than broadleaf plants though they often take up less area and are often coated to prevent unnecessary loss of water.

Most conifers have a distinctly cone-shaped canopy. This shape is extremely successful because it not only helps the tree shed snow in the winter, it also angles the leaves to catch the low-angle sun rays of the winter.

Conifers make up the majority of evergreen plants that do not lose their leaves when winter comes. These trees stand green and tall in winter and soak up the sun’s rays year-round. Instead of shedding at a certain time of the season, conifer needles shed throughout the year, being replaced as they become damaged.