Pinus belongs to Coniferpsida of the Gymnosperms. They are tall, woody, perennial trees. The following are the salient features of this plant:
1. It has a long, erect stem.
2. The stem bears dwarf shoots and long shoots.
3. The dwarf shoot possesses needle-like leaves in bunch of 1 to 5. These are foliage leaves. At the bases, there are scale-leaves, which are brown in colour and non-photosynthetic.
4. There are two types of roots. Normal roots have root cap and root hairs. Mycorrhizal roots have association of fungus.
5. Male and female cones are borne on the same plant.
6. Pollen grains are winged. The wings are actually the air sacs.
7. The pollen grains are only carried by the wind, the phenomenon called sulphur shower.
8. Ovules are naked, not covered by ovary.
9. Endosperms are formed before fertilization only. They are haploid. Thus, it is the representing the gametophytic generation of the plant.