Phytologia (January 1990) 68(l):7-78. A SUPPLEMENT TO THE INTERNATIONAL CENSUS OF THE CONIFERAE. II. John Silba 198 West HofFman Avenue, Lindenhurst, New York 11757 U.S.A. ABSTRACT Taxonomic activity in the Coniferae has steadily increased since the preliminary checklist was published by Silba (1984). New species and infraspecific taxa have been described worldwide by a number of authors involved in these groups. A taxonomic assessment of these newly proposed species and a closer look at infraspecific taxa are needed. A summary and description of these new taxa are given in this paper. KEY WORDS: Coniferae, infraspecific variation, geographic isola-tion, leaf morphology, cone morphology, juvenile stages, new taxa, range extensions. Taxonomically, the Coniferae are a fairly stable group of plants. It seems clearly evident that a uniform scheme for conifer taxonomy based on easily accessible data is needed. Field identification is an important component in the taxonomic assessment of the genera and species. Gross field morphol-ogy is valuable in many disciplines of botany, including for the biologist, the forester and the horticulturist and is not solely limited to data in the labo-ratory. Undoubtedly, much field work remains to be done; and in particular, herbarium specimens and field notes are quite sparse for many Asiatic species. I am still impressed with older standards for means of species classification by using gross morphology observable in the field, combined with ecological and geographical, data as a solid basis of interpreting taxonomic groups or units. Taxonomic units of conifer genera and species are reliably distinct in their external leaf anatomy and in external reproductive structures. Juvenile stages, bud and branchlet characteristics as well as bark structure can be highly valu-able in field identification. Olfactory analysis of leaves and crushed branchlets are useful characteristics. Ecology, habitats and soil types can be used to distinguish taxa in the field. Certain species are restricted to dry areas and others to humid areas. Chemotaxonomic and cytological data have been useful in segregating in-fraspecific varieties. What must be considered however, is how consistent are such chemotaxonomic characteristics of leaf hypodermis and tropolonic
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