However, these names are not entirely descriptive since some conifers are deciduous and the wood of several species would be classified as hard.
Most conifers have persistent leaves which remain green for two or more years before they are shed.
Bald cypress and the larches, being deciduous, lose all their leaves in the autumn. Characteristics used in the identification of conifers include types of leaves, needle length and arrangement, and twig and bud characteristics. Cones, when available, are valuable aids owing to differences in size and form. The following key to identification is constructed so that a series of alternative choices must be made from pairs of descriptions. After a choice has been made, the number on the right hand margin indicates the next pair of descriptions until the name of the tree is ultimately reached.