Conifer

Conifera
Trees of a Pinophyta species: Araucaria heterophylla (Araucariaceae)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Orders & Families
Cordaitales † Pinales   Pinaceae – Pine family   Araucariaceae – Araucaria   Podocarpaceae – Yellow-woods   Sciadopityaceae – Umbrella-pines   Cupressaceae – Cypresses   Cephalotaxaceae – Plum-yews   Taxaceae – Yews Vojnovskyales † Voltziales †

Conifers are gymnosperms. They are cone-bearing seed plants.

All living conifers are woody plants which are perennial. Most are trees; some are shrubs. They are the Division Pinophyta or Coniferophyta.^[1][2]

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.

1. ↑ Eckenwalder, James E. 2009. Conifers of the world: the complete reference, p13. Timber Press. ISBN 0881929743, ISBN 9780881929744. [1]
2. ↑ Farjon, Aljos 2008. Natural history of conifers. Timber Press. ISBN 0881928690, ISBN 9780881928693