球果植物(conifer)

球果植物目的种类。因其着生种子的鳞片（种鳞）沿轴螺旋状或轮状排列，形成球果而得名。该类群植物通常为直立的常绿乔木或灌木，也有匍匐生长者（刺柏的某些种类）和落叶类型（如落叶松）。球果植物是裸子植物最大的群类，逾五百五十种。全世界都有分布（南极洲除外）和较喜爱气候温和的地区。球果植物包括了松、桧、云杉、铁杉、枞、落叶松、红豆杉类、柏、秃柏、黄杉和崖柏等。它们包含了世界最高和最矮的树种。球果植物属软木材质，用於一般建筑、坑木、围栏桩子、木箱和板条箱以及其他制品，又是制造纸浆的材料，同时也可用作燃料，制造纤维素制品、胶合板和贴面板等。这些树木也是树脂、挥发油、松节油、焦油和一些药品的原料。球果植物的叶的构造能使水份丢失减到最低限度，特别是松、枞和云杉的叶，均变得又长又硬，一般称为针叶。柏、雪松等的叶形较小，呈鳞片状。在被子植物出现前球果植物曾是占优势的植被类型。

English version：

conifer

Any member of the order Coniferales, woody plants that bear their seeds and pollen on separate, cone-shaped structures. They constitute the largest division of gymnosperms, with more than 550 species. Most are evergreen, upright trees and shrubs. They grow throughout the world (except in Antarctica) and prefer temperate climate zones. Conifers include the pines (Pinus), junipers (Juniperus), spruces (Picea), hemlocks (Tsuga), firs (Abies), larches (Larix), yews (Taxus), cypresses (Cupressus), bald cypress cypresses (Taxodium), Douglas firs (Pseudotsuga), arborvitaes (Thuja), and related groups. They include the world's smallest and tallest trees. Conifers supply softwood timber used for general construction, mine timbers, fence posts, poles, boxes and crates, and other articles, as well as pulpwood for paper. The wood is also used as fuel and in the manufacture of cellulose products, plywood, and veneers. The trees are the source of resins, volatile oils, turpentine, tars, and pharmaceuticals. Conifer leaves vary in shape but generally have a reduced surface area to minimize water loss. Especially in the pines, firs, and spruces, the leaves are long and stiff and are commonly referred to as needles. Cypresses, cedars, and others have smaller, scalelike leaves. Conifers were the dominant type of vegetation just before the advent of angiosperms (see flowering plant).