The conifers are shrubbery and trees with branches that arise conical and fruits that also have a structure of cone . These plants belong to all the gymnosperms , which includes those species whose carpels, not having a closed space that houses the ovules, exhibit the seeds exposed.
Plants called gymnosperms are producing seeds and fall into the category of vascular (organisms that are made up of plant cells) and spermatophytes (the group of all vascular lineages that produce seeds). The etymology of its name leads us to the Greek expression "naked seed", which refers to the fact that they do not develop in a closed ovary, something that does occur in plants angiosperms.
There are about six hundred species of conifers around the world. These trees often make up a coniferous forest , where the specimens with perennial and acicular leaves predominate.
The boreal forests , also called taigas , are the most common coniferous forests. They are found in the northern hemisphere, in countries as Russia and Canada , and have conifers like Pine trees , spruces and firs . In places with higher temperatures, coniferous forests usually have species such as redwoods , the cedars and the cypresses .
When conifers are in very cold regions, it is usual for them to grow a lot in height and in the form of pyramid , since these peculiarities allow them to get rid of the snow more easily. In dry climates, meanwhile, the most frequent conifers are those with acicular leaves that help reduce evaporation.
The Pine trees They are among the best known conifers. To these diverse trees cultures they attribute a symbolism linked to strength and vitality. This is because they are perennial species, with the ability to grow and subsist in arid environments.
The highest conifers, on the other hand, are the redwoods , which can exceed one hundred meters of height regardless of the roots. Another peculiarity of redwoods is their longevity: there are specimens that live about 3000 years.
Among the conifers we find the gender Juniperus, widely distributed worldwide. The more than fifty species that it comprises can be divided into two sections: junipers (which keep thorny juvenile foliage throughout their lives) and sabinas (which after the first years lose the thorny juvenile foliage). Juníperos can be found throughout the northern hemisphere and in much of the Central American mountains.
As with all families and plant species, conifers have dozens of animal species associated that need them to survive and also provide them with different benefits. It is known by the name of pine processionary caterpillar to an insect of the order of lepidoptera (in everyday speech, they are known simply as butterflies) that in the pine forests of South America and South Europe it is very abundant and is considered a pest of relative danger.
The processionary caterpillar of the pine also inhabits fir trees and cedars, and has a very particular aspect: it is covered with hairs that come off and float in the air. Since these are stinging hairs, if they come into contact with the throat, the nostrils or ears of humans can generate from a mild irritation even severe allergic reactions. In the case of dogs, your contact with this species can be deadly .
The hairs of the pine processionary possess a substance called Thaumatopina (The scientific name of the species itself is Thaumatopoea pityocampa), a toxin thermolabile that provides them with the ability to produce hives.
