Produce "naked" seeds, which commonly appear in a cone. There are 5 orders, 15 families, about 70 genera, and 730 species.

ORDERS:

CYCADALES (Cycads) - Tropical plants resembling palms, these are the most primitive of the present-day gymnosperms.

GNETALES - Anatomically, these are somewhat intermediate between gymnosperms and angiosperms.

GINKOALES - Currently represented by only 1 family (Ginkoaceae), 1 genus (Ginko) and 1 species (G. biloba) - Ginko or Maidenhair Tree, native to China and Japan.

CONIFERALES (Conifers) - Contains 6 families, with only Pinaceae (Pine) and Cupressaceae (Cypress) native to North America (among other regions).

TAXALES - Consists of 1 family, Taxaceae (Yew).