Conifer

Conifera
Trees of a Pinophyta species: Araucaria heterophylla (Araucariaceae)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Orders & Families
Pinales   Pinaceae – Pine family   Araucariaceae – Araucaria family   Podocarpaceae – Yellow-wood family   Sciadopityaceae – Umbrella-pine family   Cupressaceae – Cypress family   Cephalotaxaceae – Plum-yew family   Taxaceae – Yew family

The Conifers are cone-bearing seed plants. Most are trees; some are shrubs. They are formally the Division Pinophyta or Coniferophyta.

Conifers are Gymnosperms. They are cone-bearing seed plants with vascular tissue; all living conifers are woody plants, the great majority being trees.

Living conifers are all in the order Pinales. Typical examples include cedars, cypresses, firs, junipers, kauris, larches, pines, redwoods, spruces, and yews.

Species of conifers can be found in almost all parts of the world, and are often the most common plants in their habitats, as in the taiga. Conifers are of great economic value, and their wood is mainly used for timber and paper making The wood of conifers is known as softwood, though yew wood is actually quite hard. The division Coniferae contains about 700 living species.

Related pages

• Conifer cones
• Tree