Pinales
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 Male cones on a pine branch
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Pinaceae, pine family |
The Order Pinales in the Division Pinophyta, Class Pinopsida comprises all the extant conifers. This order was formerly known as the Coniferales.
The distinguishing characteristic is the reproductive structure known as a cone produced by all Pinales. All of the extant conifers, such as cedar, pine, spruce, fir, larch, redwood, cypress, juniper, and yew are included here. Some fossil conifers, however, belong to other distinct orders within the Division Pinophyta (see for details).
The yews have in the past been separated into a distinct order of their own (Order Taxales), but recent genetic evidence indicates that yews are monophyletic with other conifers and they are now included in the Order Pinales.
