Regardless of whether you’re a novice gardener or a seasoned veteran, there are a few things that you should know about conifer genera. These include Redcedar and Juniper. You’ll also learn a little about Taxus, Cypress, and Norway Spruce.
Redcedar/juniper
Known as cedar, redcedar or savin evergreen, this tree is a medium sized, evergreen shrub. It is native to Eastern North America. It is often used as a windbreak and is tolerant of a variety of soils.
The wood of eastern red cedar is a good building material. The wood is used for cedar chests and pencils. It also repels moths.
This tree can be found in a variety of habitats including rocky bluffs, marshes, and open grassy areas. It is tolerant of heat and drought. It is not affected by constant wet soils, but it does need shade in the summer. Eastern Red Cedar is native to North America, and it has adapted to a variety of soils.
Junipers and cedars are members of the cypress family (Cupressaceae). They are usually tall, with a narrow, columnar crown. They are dioecious, meaning that the female and male reproductive structures are on separate plants. They are also adapted to a wide range of soils, as well as being tolerant of heat.
The fruit of eastern red cedar is also very important for birds. Its berries are a good source of carbohydrates and fats. They are often called waxy bluish fruits because of the waxy coating they have. They have a spicy aroma and are eaten by many birds. They also provide food for migrating birds in the fall.
The pollen cones of Eastern Red Cedar are usually produced in large clusters. They are oblong to ovoid in shape, and green. They contain one to twelve seeds. The ovulate conelets are produced in late summer or early fall. They turn yellowish brown in the winter.
The heartwood of Eastern Red Cedar is reddish in color and is used for building purposes. This tree is also useful for timber.
Norway spruce
Whether you are a gardener, landscape designer, or just looking for the perfect conifer to use in your landscape, there are a few things you need to know about conifer genera. Spruce trees add year-round color to your landscape. They are also excellent windbreaks, and can be used as a privacy screen.
The Norway Spruce is an evergreen conifer native to the European Alps, Carpathians, and Balkan mountains. It was first introduced into North America in the 19th century, and is now common throughout the United States and Canada. It is a hardy, pest-resistant tree.
The Norway Spruce grows in a pyramidal shape. It is fast-growing and is capable of reaching heights of 80 feet. It is a tree that is hardy and tolerant to wind and drought. It can also tolerate a variety of soil conditions. It is highly adaptable to urban environments, and can tolerate city pollution. It can also thrive in marshy or poorly drained soils.
The Norway Spruce is a monoecious plant, meaning that it is a single source of reproduction. The male flower produces pollen, which is carried by wind to the female cone. The female cone produces seeds that disperse through the wind.
The Norway spruce is a very hardy tree. It can be grown in containers and in the ground. It is also highly resistant to rust and pests. However, it is susceptible to a number of diseases. In particular, it is prone to a disease called Cytospora. It can also be susceptible to spider mites, which can attack young trees.
A mature Norway spruce can tolerate extremely cold temperatures. It can also be used as a windbreak in colder climates.
Cypress
Whether you are planning to plant a cypress or are just a curious beginner, there are a few things you need to know about this family of conifers. Cypresses, or cyparissos, are a member of the Cupressoideae family. They are known for their hardy, drought-resistant characteristics and are often grown as specimen trees in the garden. Some of the species are also used for timber.
The Spanish word kuparissos means “weeping.” The cypress tree is an excellent choice for an ornamental evergreen shrub or tree because of its weeping foliage.
This evergreen conifer grows in moist, swampy areas. It is known as an excellent windbreaker. In addition, it can be a natural fence. It has a distinctive golden-yellow foliage.
The Italian cypress is also called the Mediterranean cypress. Its soft, feathery foliage makes it a beautiful addition to garden landscapes. This plant also adds height to a landscape, and its soft, round leaves make it ideal for planting as a foundation plant.
Another cypress is the Florida cypress. This native of North America’s coasts is a favorite of gardeners for its delicate needles. This species grows tall and graceful, and is ideal for landscapes in swampy areas. It is also a great choice for a privacy screen.
There are also dwarf cypress varieties, which are ideal for small garden spaces. There are also some species that are endangered. The California cypress is a native of California and is also considered an endangered species. The Santa Ana Mountains in Orange County are home to the endangered cypress. This tree has been devastated by wildfires in the past 15 years, and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is working to save the tree.
Pinus
Among the many conifers in the world, the largest genus is Pinus. There are 115 species of evergreen conifers in this genus. These trees are a vital part of many different types of forests, including boreal and mixed forests. They are also used for timber production and flooring. They can tolerate drought and several fungal diseases.
Pines are divided into two subgenera. The first is Pinus, which includes the typical pines. The second is Strobus, which includes the white pines. Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that these two subgenera form a monophyletic group.
The seeds of some pines are useful food sources for birds and squirrels. They are also important food crops in the Mediterranean region.
Pine trees are resinous, with needles instead of leaves. They are native to northern and southern temperate regions. They can grow up to 72 meters tall. They have long, straight trunks and orange-red bark. Some pines are susceptible to dwarf mistletoes and nematode infections. Some pines are open at maturity and others are closed.
Pinus radiata is a tropical conifer that grows in coastal California in three regions. It is also native to two islands off the coast of Mexico. Pinus radiata is threatened by disease and feral goats. It is also known as Radiata pine in other parts of the world.
Pinus is closely related to other conifers. It belongs to the family Pinaceae. It is also one of the oldest genera in the Pinophyta family. It has a long history of association with fire. During times of famine, the inner bark of many pine trees has been used as a food source.
The oldest known pine is Pinus longaeva, which is 4,767 years old in 2006. Pinus longaeva grows in the White-Inyo mountain range in California.
Taxus
Among the conifer genera, Taxus is most frequently cultivated as an ornamental tree, especially the common English yew. This is a relatively slow growing shrub, but it can grow to heights of 60′. It is an extremely long-lived tree. Various cultivars of Taxus produce abundant seed, but rarely produce seedlings in the wild.
A typical Taxus seed cone is composed of a fleshy, modified seed cone scale. It is covered by an aril, which is part of the arillocarpium. The aril and arilocarpium are present on the reproductive shoot of both male and female Taxus species. However, a single ovule may be present on the reproductive shoot of a female Taxus, or more than one may be present.
Many of the Taxus species have overlapping geographical ranges. However, they may be reproductively isolated if they are found in disjunct habitats. In addition, Taxus species can be sympatric if they occur in the same region.
A Taxus morphological species concept has been challenging, particularly for Old World species. However, some Taxaceae species are considered to be closely related to other conifers. In some cases, Taxaceae are not included in the Coniferales order, and are often transferred to a new order, Taxales.
Some morphological features of Taxus are important in forming a phylogenetic tree. However, this tree does not represent the correct phylogenetic relationships between the different Taxus species. A Taxaceae phylogenetic tree can be based on morphological characteristics, but it must also be tested by molecular data. This is particularly true of Taxus kingstonii, which has been found to vary between Taiwan and the Himalayas.
The taxonomic classification of Taxus has long been controversial. This is because the names for many Taxus species have been superfluous, or have not been correctly applied. In 2007 a new approach was introduced. The taxonomy was defined by Spjut (2007b). Spjut recognized Taxus yunnanensis as distinct from Taxus wallichiana, and provided a clearer method for naming Taxus species.
