Conifer Gymnosperms

Consisting of 1,079 species (Christenhusz & Byng 2016) the conifers are the largest of the three gymnosperm lineages. They are trees or shrubs with simple, often needle-like or scale-like leaves that are either alternate or borne in clusters on short spur-shoots. Like the other gymnosperms (cycads & Ginkgo), they produce naked seeds that are not enclosed in a fruit, but are typically borne on woody cones or other structures.Their small numbers belie their importance; many are widewpread, major forest trees and they include the dominant trees of the vast boreal forests of North America & Eurasia. Pines are the dominant trees in many of our Pineywoods forests. Though members of all three gymnosperm groups grow in cultivation in the Pineywoods, only 5 confers are native. These include Pinus taeda (loblolly pine), P. echinata (shortleaf pine), P. palustris (longleaf pine)Taxodium distichum (baldcypress), and Juniperus virginiana (eastern red cedar). Pinus eliiottii (slash pine) is widely planted and has naturalized. To browse select the desired family from the menu on the left.