What are the main kinds of wood?

The vast coniferous forests in the northern hemisphere contain evergreen trees, including cedars, firs, larches, pines and spruces. They are all called softwoods, though some are quite hard. But most are easy to work and have many uses, including the making of paper. Deciduous, or broadleaved, trees grow in temperate lands. They include ash, beech, birch, chestnut, oak, sycamore and willow. These trees, which shed their leaves in winter, are often called hardwoods, though some are softer than pine. Valuable hardwoods, used to make expensive furniture, include ebony, mahogany and rosewood, which grow in tropical forests.