Chiefly found in northern temperate regions, most pines exhibit woody stems covered by bark, which helps protect the inner tissues that conduct water and nutrients from the roots of the trees to the leaves. These slender, lance-like leaves, typically referred to as needles, are extremely efficient and usually remain green year-round, resulting in the pine tree’s alternative moniker evergreen. In fact, pine needles, which are organized into bundles, may remain attached to a tree for as many as 17 years. When they do finally fall to the ground they may be utilized for a variety of purposes, especially as a type of mulch and as a material to construct woven baskets.