Kids Research Express

Spruce Spruce, common name for a genus of about 40 species of coniferous trees, indigenous to the northern hemisphere, nearly half being natives of North America. The genus, of the pine family, was formerly combined with a fir genus, from which it differs in having pendulous cones, persistent woody leaf-bases, and four-angled leaves, scattered and pointing in every direction. Spruces occur farther north than most trees, forming forests within the Arctic Circle, and extending south, especially in the mountains, as far as the Pyrenees in Europe and the Himalayas in Asia; in the United States, spruces occur as far south as North Carolina and Arizona. The white spruce and black spruce cover extensive areas in Canada, almost to the total exclusion of other trees. In Europe the Norway spruce is similarly distributed; the timber is valuable for fuel and for house building and is exported from Norway and Sweden for masts and spars of sailing vessels. Scientific classification: Spruces make up

Sequoia Sequoia (tree), also known as redwoods, common name for a group of huge, majestic evergreen trees characterized by a columnar, reddish-brown trunk rising 30 m (100 ft) or more above a buttressed base. Sequoia species are conical in shape, with needlelike leaves and small, oval cones. The trees are named for the Cherokee leader Sequoyah. Giant Sequoia The giant sequoia, or “big tree,” is found in a narrow strip about 300 km (about 200 mi) long on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada range at elevations between about 900 and 2400 m (about 3000 and 8000 ft). It is the most massive of all living forms. The leaves of the giant sequoia are scalelike and lie close to the branches. The bark of the trunk is fluted and is spongy in texture; in large trees it reaches a thickness of 60 cm (2 ft). The wood is light, coarse-grained, and highly resistant to insects and fire. Coast Redwood The coast redwood grows along the humid Pacific coast from southern Oregon to central California. Its

Larch Larch, common name for a small genus of trees, restricted to the colder parts of the northern hemisphere. Larches belong to the pine family and are unusual among the conifers in that they are deciduous: their soft, needlelike leaves, borne in dense clusters, drop in the fall, and new leaves do not appear until the following spring. Of the ten species of larch in the world, three occur in North America. The American larch, also called tamarack or hackmatack, occurs from Newfoundland and Labrador to Alaska. The strong durable wood is used in rough construction and as poles, posts, and railway ties. Western larch occurs in the northwestern United States and southeastern Canada. Its close-grained, durable wood is used in flooring. The subalpine larch, occurs in the same areas as the western larch but usually at higher altitudes. The European larch is an important timber tree in Europe, where it has been planted extensively as a crop. It is grown in North America as an ornamental. S

Juniper Juniper Juniper, common name for a genus of plants, comprising about 50 species of evergreen shrubs and trees native to the northern hemisphere. Junipers, which are conifers in the cypress family, produce their seeds in red or purple berrylike fruits. These are actually cones, similar in structure to pine cones. The leaves are usually needlelike on young plants and scalelike on older plants. About 15 species occur in North America. Juniper Berries The red or purple berries of the juniper are not true berries. They are actually cones, similar in structure to pine cones, but softer and fleshier. The juniper reproduces with these seed-bearing cones. The leaves of the juniper, like those of most conifers, are thin and needlelike. The juniper berry is used to flavor gin. Juniper The eastern red cedar, actually a juniper, is a coniferous, evergreen tree native to the eastern United States. The wood of this tree contains an oil that deters moths and is used to line chests. The wood

Hemlock Hemlock, common name for any of a genus of coniferous trees (see Pine). The genus includes about ten species, four native to temperate North America and the rest to eastern Asia. Hemlocks are tall, straight evergreens with slender branches bearing scattered, two-ranked leaves and pendulous cones. The eastern hemlock grows in hilly forests in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. It is a tall tree, usually 18 to 30 m (60 to 100 ft) in height, with light, spreading, delicate foliage. The leaves are dark green with longitudinal white lines on the lower surfaces. The wood of the eastern hemlock is used extensively as construction lumber, and tannins produced by the bark were at one time used for tanning leather. The Carolina hemlock is a somewhat smaller tree, rarely as tall as 21 m (70 ft), that grows in the mountains of Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia. The mountain hemlock is another relatively small species, 6 to 27 m (20 to 90 ft) tall, which grows along the P

Fir Fir, common name for any of a genus of trees (see Pine). The trees, known as true firs, generally have a straight trunk with somewhat pyramidal growth. The branches grow in whorls from the trunk. The cones, which are erect at maturity, are composed of thin, close scales. Each scale bears two winged seeds. The flat leaves are scattered, with the midribs showing clearly on the whitish undersides. About 25 species of true firs are widely scattered throughout the northern hemisphere. The silver fir of Europe sometimes reaches a height of 46 m (150 ft), with large boughs curved upward at their outer extremities. The leaves are dark green above, with two white lines beneath. When seen from below, the tree appears to have a silvery color. It is abundant in the mountains of southern and central Europe. It is also found in Asia, in the Caucasus Mountains. Scientific classification: Firs make up the genus Abies, of the family Pinaceae. The silver fir of Europe is classified as Abies alba; th

Cypress (tree), common name for several related coniferous trees and shrubs. The common cypress, native to the Mediterranean region, is a symmetrical evergreen that resembles some poplars and often reaches a height of more than 27 m (about 90 ft). It has a close-grained yellow or reddish wood so resinous that it resists rotting even after prolonged submersion in water. The Monterey cypress is an even larger tree found on the Pacific Coast in California. It sometimes grows as tall as 46 m (about 150 ft), with a base trunk circumference of 3 m (10 ft). This cypress is normally symmetrical but is often distorted into fantastic shapes by the action of the winds. Another true cypress is the cedar of Goa, or Portugal cedar, which is often planted in the United States for the decorative effect of its spreading branches. Scientific classification: Cypress make up the family Cupressaceae. The common cypress is classified as Cupressus sempervirens, the Monterey cypress as Cupressus macrocarpa, t