Conifers are a magnificent group of gymnosperm plants that produce seeds without fruit or flowers. They include some incredible trees, such as the 'Giant Sequoias' of North America, that can grow over 110 m tall.
The conifers are by far the largest group of gymnosperms with around 630 species worldwide of a total approximation of around 860 species. The word 'conifer' is Latin for 'cone bearing', because conifers produce cones within which they produce pollen (male cone) and grow seeds (female cone).Conifers are all woody plants, mostly trees and a few shrubby species, they have either needle-like or scale-like leaves and most species are evergreen. They include the economically important pines and many other timber species that are exploited for use in construction and paper.