| Classification |
| Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order Type: Gymnosperm
Order: Coniferales (Pinales)
Family: Pinaceae
Family Common Name: Pine Family
Genera: Abies, Picea, Larix, Pinus, Pseudotsuga |
Defining Features: The family
makes a fairly distinctive botanical group, both ecologically and economically.
Pinaceae is the largest family of conifers. Some botanists divide the Pinaceae
family into two subfamiles of Pinideae and Abietoideae.
Defining Morphology: Reproductive
Features: Plants bear their seeds in specialized structures called cones.
They are monoecious trees. Microsporangia are borne in pairs on the microsporophylls
and ovules are borne in pairs on the seed scales and bracts subtend seed
scales. Embryo is straight with inverted ovules. There are 2-18 Cotyledon.
Individuals of Bristle-Cone Pine (Pinus longavea) are the world's oldest
trees. Vegetative Features: Habit as trees and occasionally shrubs. Essentially
an evergreen group though Larix is deciduous. Leaves have strong fragrance.
Leaves are spirally arranged, simple, and linear to needlelike. Both wood
and leaves have resin canals.
Distribution: Northern Hemisphere-
From warm temperate to Arctic Circle.
Economic Use: Seeds being
part of many animal diets. Wood is the source of timber, pulp for paper,
furniture and many other purposes. As cultivated garden ornamentals.
Number of Genera Globally:
10
Number of Species Globally:
220
