Page 97 - General and Inorganic Chemistry for Advanced Secondary Schools Students Book Form Five and Six

Biology for Secondary Schools

General characteristics of conifers Advantages of conifers
Conifers possess the following (a) Conifers are the evergreen plants,
features: which are grown in large forests
(a) They are non-flowering seed- and produce useful timber called
bearing plants. softwood.
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(b) They produce naked seeds. (b) Conifer forests are home to many
(c) They have reproductive structures birds and other animals.
called cones. There are male and (c) They are also used to produce
female cones. The male cones wood pulp for paper making.
are smaller and usually occur (d) Turpentine which is used as
in clusters. The female cones of cleaning agent for painting as well
most conifers have compound as production of disinfectants and
structures. See Figure 5.21 (c) and insecticides is also a product of
(d). conifers.
(d) They form soft wood. (e) Conifer trees are used as firewood;
(e) They have needle-like or scaled hence they are a source of heat.
leaves with thick cuticle for (f) They are a source of food to
protection and reduction of water organisms, such as insects and
loss. squirrel.
(f) Conifers are widely distributed (g) Many species of Pinus are used
but commonly found in areas with as ornaments when planted in
cold climate where they form parks and gardens. Cypress
evergreen forests. also is commercially grown and
harvested for decoration during
Distinctive features of conifers festivals, such as Christmas.
(a) They bear cones. (h) Conifers remove carbon dioxide
(b) The pollen grain develops air from the atmosphere through
bladder-like structure which photosynthesis.
facilitate their movement. Hence,
they are wind pollinated plants. Disadvantages of conifers
(c) They have naked seeds, which are (a) Coniferous forest completely
born in cones. shades the ground and prevents
(d) The mature seeds are typically the growth of other plants.
winged. This is an adaptation for (b) Wood products from conifers are
seed dispersal by wind. soft and can be easily attacked by
termites if not treated.

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