Conifers (Non-Flowering Trees & Shrubs)

Conifers are cone-bearing gymnosperms - trees or shrubs that produce naked seeds without fruits.  There are two types of conifer cones - seed (female) cones and pollen (male) cones. These are the conifers' reproductive organs.  Pollen lands on female cones to fertilize them and create seeds. Seeds are usually located underneath cone scales.  Seed cones stay on the tree for a long time, while pollen cones shrink and wither off after releasing pollen.

Conifers are mostly evergreen but there are some exeptions, such as  bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) or tamarack (Larix laricina).