The Pinaceae family and its monumental tree specimens in Galicia (NW Spain)

Gymnosperms, which are seed-producing plants without a protective covering and sometimes described as lacking true flowers, include a relatively limited number of species, most of them being located in the northern hemisphere, of which a significant portion are conifers. Among gymnosperms, the Pinaceae family stands out as one of the most widespread and diverse. This family includes several genera and a few hundred species, primarily distributed across temperate to subarctic regions in the northern hemisphere, with some reaching into parts of the southern hemisphere, including certain areas of Southeast Asia. Pinaceae is, from the forestry point of view, one of the most important families, as it comprises many timber species with great ecological value. Within this family, the genus Pinus is one of the best represented. It is mainly distributed in the northern hemisphere, including North America and Eurasia. The group is made up of around ninety species, seven of which grow naturally in Spain. Of these, only two are native to the region of Galicia, while the rest are primarily located in other parts of the country. In Galicia, although the natural presence is limited, other species are commonly found in managed forest plantations and ornamental settings, often alongside various non-native pine species. During 2006–2009, work was carried out to create the Galician Catalogue of Singular Trees and, during 2017–2019, a review was undertaken. All the trees and tree formations included in the original list were inspected in the field, as well as other specimens and tree formations, with the aim of drawing up a list of possible candidates to add to the catalogue. This is a brief description of the species belonging to the Pinaceae family with singular trees in Galicia, highlighting the specimens recorded in the 2006–2009 list and those candidate specimens pending inclusion.