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Conifers
(representing
multiple
families)
By: George
Rogers
All
conifers cultivated in South Florida are listed together on this page. This
includes members of the:
Araucariaceae, Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, Podocarpaceae,
and Taxodiaceae, in otherwords, all needle-bearing plants that produce seeds but
not flowers.
Key to
Important Conifers Cultivated in South Florida
1. Conifers
narrowly spire-shaped; needles whorled, blunt-tipped…Italian Cypress (Cupressus
sempervirens)
1. Trees
shaped otherwise; needles variably arranged, only rarely whorled (sometimes in
Juniperus and then sharp-tipped)…2
2. Needles
flat and strap-shaped; seed borne singly…3
2. Needles
variable but not strap-shaped; seeds borne in cones (in Junipers these
resembling pea-sized bluish berries)…4
3. Needles
¼”-1/3” wide, the mid vein prominent…Podocarpus (Podocarpus macrophyllus)
(Note:
Podocarpus nagi Makino may be encountered. Its needles are >1/2” wide)
3. Needles
< ¼” wide, the mid vein not prominent…African Ferntree (Afrocarpus gracilior)
4. Needles
> 1.5” long…Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii)(Note: Scarcely cultivated, the
Sand Pine, Pinus clausii, is native in scrub habitats. This species is
generally much smaller than Slash Pine)
4. Needles
< 1.5” long (sometimes a small fraction of an inch)…5
5. Needles
all in one plane, deciduous; cone about the size and shape of a ping pong
ball…Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)
5. Needles
all around stem, not deciduous…6
6. Needles
opposite, in pairs, with gland; branchlets flat…Oriental Arborvitae (Thuja
orientalis)
6. Needles
alternate or whorled, glandless; branchlets 3-dimensional…7
7. Needles
variable but usually straight, <1/4” long; cone pea-sized resembling a blue pea;
crushed foliage fragrant; plants small trees, shrubby, or prostrate…Junipers (Juniperus,
many species and cultivars-see Juniper page)
7. Needles
variable but often curved, flat or needle-shaped, sometimes to about ½” long
(but possibly shorter); plants becoming large trees; cones over 3” diam….Norfolk
Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla)
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