Division Coniferophyta, Economic Importance, Distribution and Philippine Species

1. Romeo M. Tubongbanua, Jr.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY
(TAXONOMY)
Coniferophyta

2. Coniferophyta/Pinophyta
• The conifers are assigned to
- Division: Pinophyta/Coniferophyta
- Class: Pinopsida/Coniferopsida
- Order: Pinales/Coniferales
• Termed conifers because most members bear
their seeds in cones
- Cones protect ovule/seed and facilitate
pollination and dispersal.
• They are the largest and most ecologically &
economically important of the gymnosperms

3. Coniferae
The conifers, division Pinophyta, also
known as division Coniferophyta, are one of 13
or 14 division level taxa within the Kingdom
Plantae. Pinophytes are gymnosperms. They are
cone-bearing seed plants with vascular tissue; all
extant conifers are woody plants, the great
majority being trees with just a few being shrubs.
Typical examples of conifers include cedars,
Douglas-firs, cypresses, firs, junipers, kauri,
larches, pines, hemlocks, redwoods, spruces, and
yews. The division contains approximately seven
families, 68 genera, and 630 living species.

5. Although the total number of species is relatively
small, conifers are of immense ecological importance.
They are the dominant plants over huge areas of land,
most notably the boreal forests of the northern
hemisphere , but also in similar cool climates in
mountains further south. Boreal conifers have many
wintertime adaptations. The narrow conical shape of
northern conifers, and their downward drooping limbs
help them shed snow. Many of them seasonally alter
their biochemistry to make them more resistant to
freezing, called "hardening". While tropical rainforests
have more biodiversity and turnover, the immense
conifer forests of the world represent the largest
terrestrial carbon sink, i.e. where carbon from
atmospheric CO2 is bound as organic compounds.

6. Conifer
The name ‘conifer’ comes from Latin and means ‘cone
bearing’. All conifers bear their male and female reproductive organs
in separate cones (strobili) rather than in flowers. Trees usually bear
both male and female cones. Male cones produce pollen grains which
are transported to the female cones by wind. The seeds subsequently
develop within the female cones. In some genera, such as Juniperus
and Podocarpus, these may be fleshy. The foliage of conifers is either
needle-like (eg Pinus, Abies) or scalelike (eg. Cupressus,
Chamaecyparis), and most conifers, with the exception of four
genera, are evergreen trees and shrubs. The conifers belong to the
group of seed plants known as the gymnosperms. Gymnosperm
literally means ‘naked seed’. This is the main characteristic which
differentiates them from the more advanced flowering plants
(angiosperms) which bear their seeds encased in an ovary that
becomes the fruit. Other gymnosperms include ginkgo (Ginkgo
biloba) and cycads.

7. Life Cycle
1. To fertilize the ovum, the male cone releases pollen that is
carried on the wind to the female cone. (Male and female
cones can be found on the same plant)
2. The pollen fertilizes the female gamete (located in the
female cone).
3. A fertilized female gamete (called a zygote) develops into
an embryo.
4. Along with integument cells surrounding the embryo, a
seed develops containing the embryo. This is an
evolutionary characteristic of the gymnosperms.
5. Mature seed drops out of cone onto the ground.
6. Seed germinates and seedling grows into a mature plant.
7. When the plant is mature, the adult plant produces cones
and the cycle continues.

8. Cluster of male
(staminate) cones
of Pinus kiseya

9. Female (ovulate) cones
of Pinus kiseya

10. • Araucariaceae – Agathis
• Pinaceae – Pinus
• Podocarpaceae – Dacrycarpus,
Dacrydium, Falcatifolium, Nageia,
Phyllocladus, Podocarpus, Sundacarpus
• Taxaceae – Taxus
Families (Present in the Philippines)

11. Araucariaceae

12. Agathis
A. dammara
Distribution: Sulawesi,
Moluccas,
Philippines.
Palawan, Samar
Conservation Status:
Vulnerable
www.phytoimages.siu.edu

13. Agathis
A. philippinensis
Distribution: Philippines,
Sulawesi, Moluccas.
Babuyan Isls, Luzon
to Mindanao
Conservation Status:
Vulnerable
www.phytoimages.siu.edu

14. Pinaceae

15. Young Root
https://www.esciencezone.com/2018/11/pinus-external-morphologyinternal.html

16. Young Shoot
https://www.esciencezone.com/2018/11/pinus-external-morphologyinternal.html

17. Needle (Foliage Leaf)
https://www.esciencezone.com/2018/11/pinus-external-morphologyinternal.html

18. https://www.esciencezone.com/2018/11/pinus-external-morphologyinternal.html

19. https://www.esciencezone.com/2018/11/pinus-external-morphologyinternal.html

20. Pinus
P. kiseya
Distribution: Luzon: Pangasinan prov, Mountain Province, Ifugao,
Benguet, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija,
Zambales
www.phytoimages.siu.edu

21. Pinus
P. merkusii
Distribution: Luzon:
Throughout
continental SE
Asia
Conservation Status:
Vulnerable
www.phytoimages.siu.edu

22. Podocarpaceae

23. Dacrycarpus
D. cumingii
Distribution: N Sumatra, Borneo (Sarawak), Philippines.
Luzon, Panay, Negros, Mindanao.

24. Dacrycarpus
D. imbricatus Conservation Status: Other Threatened Species
var. imbricatus
Distribution: N Myanmar and southernmost China, through SE Asia to Malesia
var. robustus
Distribution: Borneo (Sarawak), Philippines, Moluccas (Morotai, Seram), and throughout
New Guinea.
www.phytoimages.siu.edu

25. Dacryidium
D. beccarri
Distribution: N Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo,
Philippines, Moluccas, New Guinea, Solomon Isls, New Guinea
www.phytoimages.siu.edu

26. Dacryidium
D. elatum
Distribution: China to W Malesia, Philippines
D. pectinatum
Distribution: Hainan, Billiton, Borneo, Philippines
Conservation Status: Other Threatened Species
D. xanthandrum
Distribution: Borneo, Philippines, CE Sulawesi, New Guinea,
Solomon Isls

27. Falcatifolium
F. gruezoi
Distribution: Moluccas (Obi), Sulawesi (Manado), Philippines.
www.phytoimages.siu.edu

28. Nageia
N. wallichiana
Distribution: India, Myanmar, Thailand, Indochina, Yunnan, Sumatra,
Peninsular Malaysia, Banka Is, W Java, Lesser Sunda Isls, Borneo,
Philippines, N & C Sulawesi, Moluccas, New Guinea
www.phytoimages.siu.edu

29. Phyllocladus
P. hypophyllus
Distribution: Borneo, Philippines, Sulawesi, Moluccas, New Guinea.
Conservation Status: Other Threatened Species
www.phytoimages.siu.edu

30. Podcarpus
P. hypophyllus
Distribution: From northernmost Philippines to Ryukyu Isls.
Conservation Status: Endangered
www.phytoimages.siu.edu

31. Podcarpus
P. glaucus
Distribution: Solomon Isls, New Guinea, Moluccas, Philippines..
www.phytoimages.siu.edu

32. Podcarpus
P. lophatus
Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines.
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
www.phytoimages.siu.edu

33. Podcarpus
P. macrocarpus
Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines.
Conservation Status: Endangered

34. Podcarpus
P. neriifolius
Distribution: Nepal to Vietnam, Sumatra to Philippines.
Conservation Status: Endangered
www.phytoimages.siu.edu

35. Podcarpus
P. palawanensis
Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines.
Conservation Status: Endangered

36. Podcarpus
P. pilgeri
Distribution: S China,
Philippines, C Sulawesi,
New Guinea.
www.phytoimages.siu.edu

37. Podcarpus
P. polystachyus
Distribution: Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Riouw-Lingga &
Banka Isls, Borneo, Philippines, Moluccas, New Guinea.
Conservation Status: Vulnerable

38. Podcarpus
P. ramosii
Distribution: E Borneo,
Philippines.
Conservation Status:
Endangered
www.phytoimages.siu.edu

39. Podcarpus
P. rumphii
Distribution: Hainan,
Peninsular Malaysia, S C
Java, Bawean Is, Borneo,
Philippines, Sulawesi, Lesser
Sunda Isls, Moluccas, New
Guinea
Conservation Status:
Vulnerable
www.phytoimages.siu.edu

40. Sundacarpus
S. amarus
Distribution: Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Philippines, C & SW
Sulawesi, Lesser Sunda Isls, Moluccas, New Guinea, NE
coastal Queensland.

41. Taxaceae

42. Taxus
T. phytonii
Distribution: Taiwan, Philippines.
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
www.phytoimages.siu.edu