Conifers and cycads Conifers and their close relatives the cycads and ginkgos are among the oldest of all plants, first appearing over 275 million years ago. They are called gymnosperms and all make seeds in cones. Cycads are tropical plants that look a little like palm trees. Ginkgos are tall Chinese trees. Silver fir resin is used to make turpentine.
Larches are the only deciduous conifers.
Sitka spruce provides good wood for paper. Cedar of Lebanon gives a hard, scented wood. Western hemlock is grown for box wood. Douglas firs can grow to over 75m tall. Austrian pines are often used as windbreaks.