{"id":57,"date":"2020-01-19T04:13:10","date_gmt":"2020-01-19T09:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/chapter\/plant-morphology-conifers\/"},"modified":"2023-07-25T15:29:30","modified_gmt":"2023-07-25T19:29:30","slug":"plant-morphology-conifers","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/chapter\/plant-morphology-conifers\/","title":{"raw":"Plant Morphology \u2013 Conifers","rendered":"Plant Morphology \u2013 Conifers"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Learning Objectives<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Use a dichotomous key to identify conifers.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nBoth evergreen and deciduous leaves exhibit characteristic broad blades in angiosperms, and narrow needle, scale-like, or awl-shaped leaves in the conifers. Figure 15.1 illustrates\u00a0 the different types of conifer leaves. Leaves may be borne singly on the shoot as in <em>Picea<\/em> spp. (spruce), in tufts or clusters as in <em>Larix<\/em> spp. (larch), or in fascicles (bundles) of 2-5 as in <em>Pinus<\/em> spp. (pines). The awl-shape and scale-like foliage of <em>Juniperus<\/em> spp. exhibits leaf dimorphism where a juvenile leaf form differs from the mature leaves of the same plant.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_56\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"567\"]<img class=\"wp-image-56 size-full\" title=\"Types of conifer leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/accessibilitytoolkit\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/318\/2019\/12\/Conifer-leaves-2.jpg\" alt=\"Types of conifer leaves with terms below: needles borne singly on shoot, scale-like, awl-shape\" width=\"567\" height=\"286\" \/> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Figure 15.1 Types of conifer leaves.<\/span>[\/caption]\r\n<h2>Dichotomous Key for Some Common Conifers.<\/h2>\r\nView plant images at the <a href=\"https:\/\/plantdatabase.kpu.ca\/#gsc.tab=0\">KPU Plant Database.<\/a>\r\n<ul type=\"none\">\r\n \t<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul type=\"none\">\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">1.a. leaves long, needle-like ........................................................ go to 2<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">1.b. leaves lanceolate, awl or scale-like, overlapping, not needle-like .......................................................................................... go to 5<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">2.a. needles in bundles or tufts ..................................................... go to 3<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">2.b. needles borne singly ............................................................ go to 7<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">3.a. needles in bundles of 2 to 5 .................................................... go to 4<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">3.b. needles deciduous, many in a tuft .................... <em>Larix<\/em><em> decidua<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">4.a. 5 needles per bundle .................................... <em>Pinus strobus<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">4.b. 2 needles per bundle .......................................................... go to 10<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">5.a. scales imbricate (overlapping) cones small, upright... <em>Thuja <\/em><em>plicata<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">5.b. scales imbricate, cones spherical or oval, opening along sutures at maturity ........................................................................................... go to 6<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">6.a. cones small, spherical; cone scales with a prominent point ....................................................... <em>Cupressus <\/em><em>nootkatensis<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">6.b. cones larger, oval, cone scales thick, deeply pitted .................................................. <em>Sequoiadendron <\/em><em>giganteum<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">7.a. needles stiff and sharp, 4-sided ................................................ go to 8<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">7.b. needles flat and pliable .......................................................... go to 9<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">8.a. needles extremely sharp, new growth coated with bluish wax\u2026......................................... <em>Picea <\/em><em>pungens<\/em> Glauca Group<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">8.b. needles not extremely sharp, not coated with bluish wax ..................................................................... <em>Picea<\/em> <em>abies<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">9.a. needles dull green, 2 cm long, borne on short pegs that persist after the needles fall ........................................................ <em>Tsuga <\/em><em>heterophylla<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">9.b. needles shining green, 2 cm long, not borne on pegs ........................................................ <em>Pseudotsuga <\/em><em>menziesii<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">10.a. needles &lt; 7 cm long ........................................................... go to 11<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">10.b. needles &gt; 7 cm long ..................................... <em>Pinus <\/em><em>nigra<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">11.a. needles dark green, 3-6 cm long, cone scales with a small recurved prickle ................................................................. <em>Pinus <\/em><em>contorta<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"text-align: left;\">11.b. needles bluish green 5-7 cm long, slightly twisted, cone scales without a prickle ............................................................... <em>Pinus <\/em><em>sylvestris<\/em><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Learning Objectives<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<ul>\n<li>Use a dichotomous key to identify conifers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Both evergreen and deciduous leaves exhibit characteristic broad blades in angiosperms, and narrow needle, scale-like, or awl-shaped leaves in the conifers. Figure 15.1 illustrates\u00a0 the different types of conifer leaves. Leaves may be borne singly on the shoot as in <em>Picea<\/em> spp. (spruce), in tufts or clusters as in <em>Larix<\/em> spp. (larch), or in fascicles (bundles) of 2-5 as in <em>Pinus<\/em> spp. (pines). The awl-shape and scale-like foliage of <em>Juniperus<\/em> spp. exhibits leaf dimorphism where a juvenile leaf form differs from the mature leaves of the same plant.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_56\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-56\" style=\"width: 567px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-56 size-full\" title=\"Types of conifer leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/accessibilitytoolkit\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/318\/2019\/12\/Conifer-leaves-2.jpg\" alt=\"Types of conifer leaves with terms below: needles borne singly on shoot, scale-like, awl-shape\" width=\"567\" height=\"286\" srcset=\"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/318\/2019\/12\/Conifer-leaves-2.jpg 567w, https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/318\/2019\/12\/Conifer-leaves-2-300x151.jpg 300w, https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/318\/2019\/12\/Conifer-leaves-2-65x33.jpg 65w, https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/318\/2019\/12\/Conifer-leaves-2-225x113.jpg 225w, https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/318\/2019\/12\/Conifer-leaves-2-350x177.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 567px) 100vw, 567px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-56\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Figure 15.1 Types of conifer leaves.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Dichotomous Key for Some Common Conifers.<\/h2>\n<p>View plant images at the <a href=\"https:\/\/plantdatabase.kpu.ca\/#gsc.tab=0\">KPU Plant Database.<\/a><\/p>\n<ul type=\"none\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul type=\"none\">\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">1.a. leaves long, needle-like &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. go to 2<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">1.b. leaves lanceolate, awl or scale-like, overlapping, not needle-like &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; go to 5<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">2.a. needles in bundles or tufts &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. go to 3<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">2.b. needles borne singly &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; go to 7<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">3.a. needles in bundles of 2 to 5 &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. go to 4<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">3.b. needles deciduous, many in a tuft &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. <em>Larix<\/em><em> decidua<\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">4.a. 5 needles per bundle &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; <em>Pinus strobus<\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">4.b. 2 needles per bundle &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. go to 10<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">5.a. scales imbricate (overlapping) cones small, upright&#8230; <em>Thuja <\/em><em>plicata<\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">5.b. scales imbricate, cones spherical or oval, opening along sutures at maturity &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. go to 6<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">6.a. cones small, spherical; cone scales with a prominent point &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. <em>Cupressus <\/em><em>nootkatensis<\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">6.b. cones larger, oval, cone scales thick, deeply pitted &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. <em>Sequoiadendron <\/em><em>giganteum<\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">7.a. needles stiff and sharp, 4-sided &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; go to 8<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">7.b. needles flat and pliable &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. go to 9<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">8.a. needles extremely sharp, new growth coated with bluish wax\u2026&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. <em>Picea <\/em><em>pungens<\/em> Glauca Group<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">8.b. needles not extremely sharp, not coated with bluish wax &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; <em>Picea<\/em> <em>abies<\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">9.a. needles dull green, 2 cm long, borne on short pegs that persist after the needles fall &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. <em>Tsuga <\/em><em>heterophylla<\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">9.b. needles shining green, 2 cm long, not borne on pegs &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. <em>Pseudotsuga <\/em><em>menziesii<\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">10.a. needles &lt; 7 cm long &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. go to 11<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">10.b. needles &gt; 7 cm long &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. <em>Pinus <\/em><em>nigra<\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">11.a. needles dark green, 3-6 cm long, cone scales with a small recurved prickle &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. <em>Pinus <\/em><em>contorta<\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">11.b. needles bluish green 5-7 cm long, slightly twisted, cone scales without a prickle &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; <em>Pinus <\/em><em>sylvestris<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"author":90,"menu_order":15,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-57","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":19,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/57","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/90"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/57\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":420,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/57\/revisions\/420"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/19"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/57\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=57"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=57"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/plantidentification\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=57"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}