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Most woody plants belonging to the order Pinales have needles. Their anatomy has adapted to external conditions – mainly the deficit of water during winter. In cross section, the needles are different in shape, but the leaf anatomy of coniferous species is quite similar. However, there are inter-species differences in arrangement of hypodermis, in the type of mesophyll, in the number and arrangement of resin ducts, and in the number of vascular bundles. Needles are a suitable material for Biology lectures. Their advantage is their availability every season of the year. This paper offers some options for the observation of needle anatomy, recognition of species differences, and the use of an anatomical identification key. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]