Pine Family

Living Gymnosperm Phyla Conifers - Pinophyta or Coniferophyta Cycadophyta - Cycads Gnetophyta - Gnetophytes Ginkgophyta - Ginkgos

Differences between the Pine Family and Cypress Family Woody seed cone Cone bract present, free from cone scale Cone scales overlap Leaves needle like Seed cone woody or berry like Cone bract fused with cone scale Cone scales don’t overlap Leaves needle, awl or scale like

Pines - genus Pinus of the family Pinaceae Most familiar of all conifers About 90 species

Pine Leaves Needles produced in clusters (fascicles) of 1 to 5

Pines produce pollen cones and seeds cones

Pines Seed cones take two years to develop Umbo with or without prickle on each cone scale Cone scales overlap in seed cones Two seeds with wings on top of cone scale

Umbo on Cone Scale with prickle Ponderosa Pine

Umbo without a prickle Japanese Black Pine

Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas Fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas Fir Seed Cone Pollen Cone

Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas Fir Cones develop in one year No umbo on cone scale Bract is longer than cone scale

True cedars—the genus Cedrus deciduous, upright cones, needles clusters on short side shoots

Cones of true cedars (Cedrus) Female (young, green, on the left) Male (brown, papery, on the right)

Mature cones of true cedar All the cone scales fall off, carrying the seeds away, leaving only the central axis (spike)

Atlas Cedar and Deodar Cedar Needles in clusters on short side shoots Cones develop each year, without a distinct umbo Seed cones are upright Seed cones fall apart when mature so seeds can disperse

Cypress Family

Differences between the Pine Family and Cypress Family Woody seed cone Cone bract present, free from cone scale Cone scales overlap Leaves needle like Seed cone woody or berry like Cone bract fused with cone scale Cone scales don’t overlap Leaves needle, awl or scale like

Calocedrus decurrens Incense Cedar

Incense Cedar Scale leaves

Incense Cedar Seed cone woody and hangs down Cone scales in three pairs Middle cone scale fertile Produces 2 fertile seeds

Juniper

Juniper Seed cone fleshy, berry like

Juniper leaves Awl or Scale

Giant Sequoia

Giant Sequoia Awl leaves and woody seed cones

Coast Redwood

Coast Redwood

small woody cones Sequoia sempervirens, coast redwood Linear or awl-like leaves, small woody cones

Differences between the Pine Family and Cypress Family Woody seed cone Cone bract present, free from cone scale Cone scales overlap Leaves needle like Seed cone woody or berry like Cone bract fused with cone scale Cone scales don’t overlap Leaves needle, awl or scale like