There are about 260 species in this family and they cover most of the boreal forests of the northern hemisphere and extend at one point one degree south of the equator into northern Indonesia. The largest genus in this family is Pinus which has about 120 species and subspecies and it accounts for much of the huge geographic spread. The cones are erect and are deciduous in one year. Have long and short shoots with cones on the short shoots. Cones appear in late summer and are erect and are deciduous in one year.
Leaves are single but arranged in false whorls and persist for several years.
Have long and short shoots with cones on the short shoots. Cones are erect and ripen in one year but persist and release seeds for a longer time. Leaves are single but arranged in false whorls and are deciduous in one year. Same as Larix, but their cones are deciduous, i.e.,breakup and release seed at maturity within one year. Leaves somewhat whorled and nondeciduous.