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The great majority of conifer genera and species are evergreen, retaining their leaves for several (2–40) years before falling, but unusual deciduous conifers occur in five genera (Larix, Pseudolarix, Glyptostrobus, Metasequoia and Taxodium), shedding their leaves in autumn and leafless through the winter.
Larches are deciduous conifers in the genus Larix, of the family Pinaceae (subfamily Laricoideae).Growing from 20 to 45 metres (65 to 150 feet) tall, [1] they are native to the cooler regions of the northern hemisphere, where they are found in lowland forests in the high latitudes, and high in mountains further south.
Pseudolarix is a genus of coniferous trees in the pine family Pinaceae containing three species, the extant Pseudolarix amabilis and the extinct species Pseudolarix japonica and Pseudolarix wehrii. Pseudolarix species are commonly known as golden larch, but are not true larches (Larix) being more closely related to Keteleeria, Abies and Cedrus.
Podocarpaceae is a large family of mainly Southern Hemisphere conifers, known in English as podocarps, comprising about 156 species of evergreen trees and shrubs. [1] It contains 19 genera if Phyllocladus is included and Manoao and Sundacarpus are recognized.
Most conifers are monoecious, but some are subdioecious or dioecious; all are wind-pollinated. Conifer seeds develop inside a protective cone called a strobilus. The cones take from four months to three years to reach maturity, and vary in size from 2 to 600 millimetres (1 ⁄ 8 to 23 + 5 ⁄ 8 in) long.
Taiga trees tend to have shallow roots to take advantage of the thin soils, while many of them seasonally alter their biochemistry to make them more resistant to freezing, called "hardening". [36] The narrow conical shape of northern conifers, and their downward-drooping limbs, also help them shed snow. [36]
The tree is a large deciduous conifer reaching 30 to 60 meters (98 to 197 feet) tall, with a trunk up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) diameter; the bark ranges from orangish to purplish brown. [5] The crown is narrow conic; the main branches are level to upswept, with the side branches often drooping.
The conifers, division Pinophyta, are one of 13 or 14 division level taxa within the Kingdom Plantae. They are cone -bearing seed plants with vascular tissue; all extant conifers are woody plants , the great majority being trees with just a few being shrubs .