coniferous

American  

[koh-nif-er-uhs, kuh-] / koʊˈnɪf ər əs, kə- /

adjective

Botany.

1. belonging or pertaining to the conifers.

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coniferous British  

/ kɒ-, kəˈnɪfərəs /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the plant phylum Coniferophyta See conifer

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Etymology

Origin of coniferous

First recorded in 1655–65; conifer, -ous

Explanation

Anything that's coniferous has to do with trees or shrubs that grow pinecones. If you celebrate Christmas, you might observe the holiday by decorating a coniferous tree with lights and ornaments. The adjective coniferous is used to describe conifers, woody evergreens that have cones and needles rather than leaves. Coniferous forests and taigas are full of these trees, including pines, hemlocks, junipers, and firs. Whenever you see a pinecone, you can be sure it came from a coniferous tree or shrub. The Latin source of coniferous means "cone-bearing," from roots conus, "cone," and ferre, "to carry."

Example Sentences

The ancient pollen record shows coniferous forests and grasslands characterized the region, able to support foraging and hunting by humans.

From Science Daily • Sep. 22, 2023

Despite its gruesome appearance, this mushroom is beneficial for the coniferous trees it colonizes.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2023

Then she released it back into the morning sky to complete its journey north to breeding grounds in the dense coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2023

In the Pacific Northwest, they compete with the threatened spotted owl in old-growth coniferous forest.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 30, 2022

Japanese forest composition varies with latitude and altitude: evergreen leafy forest in the south at low altitude, deciduous leafy forest in central Japan, and coniferous forest in the north and at high altitude.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond