Which plant group is characterized by producing seeds in cones and having needle-like leaves?

• A. Coniferous
• B. Deciduous
• C. Grassland
• D. Alpine shrub

Answer: (A)

Seeds in cones and needle-like leaves point to conifers, a group of gymnosperms. Conifers reproduce with cones rather than flowers, and the leaves are typically narrow and evergreen, either needle-like or scale-like. The seeds develop inside cones, with female cones housing the seeds and male cones producing pollen. This combination—cones as seed-bearing structures and evergreen, needle-like leaves—fits conifers and helps them thrive in cooler, drier environments. Deciduous trees have broad leaves and shed them seasonally; grasses reproduce via flowers and fruits, not cones; alpine shrubs describe a growth form rather than a reproductive strategy.