Producers

  Coniferous trees take root in the taiga. Coniferous trees, or evergreens, are trees with long thin waxy needles. The wax gives protection from freezing temperatures and from drying out. Evergreens don't lose their leaves during the winter. They start photosynthesis as soon as the weather gets warmer. The dark color of the needles allows them to absorb the sun’s heat and start photosynthesis early. Evergreens in the taiga tend to be thin and grow close together. This gives them protection in the cold and against strong winds. They are shaped like upside down cones to prevent branches from breaking under heavy snow. Some Evergreens include Pine, White Spruce, Hemlock, and Douglas Fir. There are also many plants such as the Sphagnum Moss, Club Moss, and Lichen. Other organisms such as the Twin Leaf, Wild Lily of the Valley, and Bracken Fern. Most of these plants grow near the coniferous trees. The Crowberry Bush, Blueberry Bush, and Raspberry Bush provide food for animals that live in the taiga.