List of Pinus species

Each of the subgenera have been further divided into sections based on chloroplast DNA sequencing[1] and whole plastid genomic analysis.

The current division into two subgenera (Pinus and Strobus) is supported with rigorous genetic evidence.

Several features are used to distinguish the subgenera, sections, and subsections of pines: the number of leaves (needles) per fascicle, whether the fascicle sheaths are deciduous or persistent, the number of fibrovascular bundles per needle (2 in Pinus or 1 in Strobus), the position of the resin ducts in the needles (internal or external), the presence or shape of the seed wings (absent, rudimentary, articulate, and adnate), and the position of the umbo (dorsal or terminal) and presence of a prickle on the scales of the seed cones.

Species in this section are native to Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean, except for P. resinosa in northeastern North America and P. tropicalis in western Cuba.

Section Trifoliae (American hard pines), despite its name (which means "three-leaved"), has two to five needles per fascicle, or rarely eight.

[4] Subsection Ponderosae is native to Central America, Mexico, the western United States, and southwestern Canada,[4][13] although its former range was possibly much wider as evidenced by upper Miocene fossils belonging to this subsection found in Japan [14] Subgenus Strobus includes the white and soft pines.

In all species except for P. nelsonii, the fascicle sheaths curl back to form a rosette before falling away.

Subsection Cembroides (pinyons or piñons) is native to Mexico and the southwestern United States.

Section Quinquefoliae (white pines), as its name (which means "five-leaved") suggests, has five needles per fascicle except for P. krempfii, which has two, and P. gerardiana and P. bungeana, which have three.

Subsection Krempfianae is currently native to Vietnam, with a fossil record extending into the Oligocene.

Until 2021, the subsection was considered monotypic, when an Oligocene fossil species was described from Yunnan Province, China.