Araucariaceae, araucaria family (41)
Arctopityaceae†(fossils only)
Cephalotaxaceae, plum-yew family (20)
Cheirolepidiaceae†(fossils only)
Cupressaceae, cypress family (130-140)
Pinaceae, pine family (220-250)
Podocarpaceae, yellow-wood family (170-200)
Sciadopityaceae, umbrella-pine family (1)
Taxaceae, yew family (12-30)
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, celery-pine, cypress, fir, juniper, larch, pine, redwood, spruce, and yew are included here. Some fossil conifers, however, belong to other distinct orders within the division Pinophyta.
The yews have previously been separated into a distinct order of their own (Taxales), but genetic evidence indicates yews are monophyletic with other conifers and they are now included in the Pinales. However, the evidence for these facts is vague, therefore it was probably a controversy over time.
The families included are Araucariaceae, Cephalotaxaceae, Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, Podocarpaceae, Sciadopityaceae, and Taxaceae.