Redwood
Redwood tree (Sequoideae)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Pinales
Family:	Cupressaceae
Subfamily:	Sequoioideae
Genera
Sequoia Sequoiadendron Metasequoia

The redwoods are a subfamily of conifers, the Sequoioideae. They are in the Cypress family Cupressaceae.

They are common in the coastal forests of Northern California and are perhaps the largest tree in the world. There are three living genera. There were once more species of redwood trees, but most have become extinct.

These trees are pyrophytes: they have adapted to survive forest fires. Because fire is common where they grow, redwood trees have developed thick, fire-resistant bark. Their cones open only after a fire. Because fire control is better these days, the trees are endangered.