Needle Leaves

Be careful if you touch the leaves of a conifer ! Its thin, pointed leaves are as sharp as needles and may stick your finger. The word “conifer” means “cone-bearing.” These trees have cones that hold their seeds. Since the trees are green all year, they are also called evergreens.

Forests with mostly conifers are called coniferous forests. They are found in places that have long winters with lots of rain or snow. Coniferous forests have fewer layers than deciduous forests. There is only one tree layer, with a few bushes or small plants below it. Mosses and lichens cover the ground.

This Venn diagram shows how deciduous and coniferous forests are alike and different. The things that are alike are listed where the two circles overlap.View Larger Image

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