Coniferophyta

n : cone-bearing gymnosperms dating from the Carboniferous

period; most are substantial trees; includes the classes

Pinopsida (subdivision Pinophytina) and Ginkgopsida

(subdivision Ginkgophytina) and Taxopsida (subdivision

Taxophytina) which in turn include the surviving orders

Coniferales and Taxales (yews) and sometimes Ginkgoales

as well as extinct orders such as Cordaitales (of the

Carboniferous and Permian) and Volztiales (of the

Permian-Jurassic) [syn: {Coniferopsida}, {class

Coniferopsida}, {Coniferophytina}, {subdivision

Coniferophytina}, {Coniferophyta}]