By far the most numerous and widespread of the gymnosperm divisions alive todayOrder Coniferales contains 50 genera with 550 speciesFamily Lebachiaceae and order Cordaitales are extinctForm extensive forests in west North America, Europe, and Asia. Abundant in temperate South America, New Zeland, and AustraliaFour main morphological groups of leaves: needle, linear to lanceolate, reduced scale-like and close to the stem, and the most common flat and usually ovate leaves
Tallest vascular plant is the redwood of coastal California and southestern Oregon |
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Conifers also have great commercial valueSources of timber, pulpwood, turpentine, and pitchSources of Canada balsam, Venetian turpentine, and edible seedsChristmas tree industry consumes large numbers of pine trees each year, particularly Pinus, Abies, and PseudotsugaIncreasing trend to use exotic varities in landscaping - especially blue varities of Picea, dwarf Pinus, and Cedar |
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