Pinus, the
Pines, is a genus of approximately 111
extant tree and shrub species. The genus is currently split into two subgenera, subgenus
Pinus (
Diploxylon pines or
Hard pines), and subgenus
Strobus (
Haploxylon pines or
Soft pines). Each of the subgenera have several
sections within based on
chloroplast DNA sequencing. Older classifications split the genus with three subgenera,
Pinus (Pinus),
Pinus (Strobus), and
Pinus (Ducampopinus) (
Pinyon,
Bristlecone and Lacebark pines)physical morphology of based on cone, seed and leaf characters. DNA phylogeny has shown that
Pinus (Ducampopinus) species are members of
Pinus (Strobus), and the subgenus
Pinus (Ducampopinus) is no longer used.