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Why is gymnosperm wood often called softwood?
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Gymnosperm
Pine cone and exposed seeds of the pinyon pine (Pinus edulis). Pinyon pines are gymnosperms and bear their edible seeds, known as pine nuts, in protective cones instead of fruit.
The term "softwood" is used to describe the wood of gymnosperms—specifically conifers such as pine, fir, and spruce—to differentiate it from the wood of angiosperms, which is known as hardwood.12
This classification is based on the structural composition of the xylem rather than the physical hardness of the timber itself. Gymnosperm wood is considered simpler in its anatomy because it consists primarily of elongated tracheids, which serve as both water-conducting and structural cells. In contrast, the wood of most angiosperms is more complex, typically containing specialized vessel elements for water conduction and additional fibers that provide structural support.3145