Coniferous forests are named for their abundance of conifer trees. A conifer is a type of tree characterized by cones which hold seeds for reproduction. Common species of conifer include pines, cedars, spruces, and firs. These types of trees have thin, waxy needles in place of large and flat leaves, which they bear year-round. With little sap content, needles avoid freezing, and their rigid, waxy structure protects them from extreme weather conditions like rain and snow. Some species of deciduous trees, such as birch, also survive in coniferous forests.
Numerous ponds and small lakes throughout the coniferous forest gradually fill up with debris and decomposing organic matter from the thick forests that surround them, forming bogs and swamps. The conditions of these ecosystems are often harsh for many plant species due to high levels of acidity, limiting species diversity. These shallow wetland areas are densely populated with both rooted and unrooted aquatic plants, including rare species of wildflowers such as sundews and orchids. Surrounding the shore and extending into the waters, several species of grass and sedge populations thrive, along with species of birch and a number of shrubs, including labrador tea, sweet gale and blueberry bushes.
Coniferous forests are some of the oldest forests in the world. While many coniferous communities have been severely damaged by improper logging practices, government-protected reserves such as the Redwood National and State Parks in Northern California have preserved large areas of these ancient trees. These parks are dominated by the sequoia tree. Commonly called redwoods, these conifers of the Pacific Northwest are the tallest and oldest trees on earth - some older than 3,000 years. These ancient forests are also home to coastal spruce communities as well as moist groves and large expanses of scrubs and bushes that battle for sunlight on the forest floor under the enormous redwood canopy. In ancient conifer communities such as this, population density is very high, creating extremely tall and thick brush.