Christopher N. Page (1942–2022) held a first class bachelor's degree in geology and a PhD in cytogenetics. Following positions at the University of Queensland and University of Oxford, he joined the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh as a specialist tree scientist. This provided him with a base for half a century of global study of conifers and ferns, including more than 10 cumulative years spent in the field on every continent except Antarctica. After leaving Edinburgh, he joined the University of Exeter in his retirement, where he continued to study ancient plant groups by integrating multi-sourced plant data with phylogenetic arrays. The author of 8 books and 150 journal papers, Dr Page was best known for bridging fields as diverse as geology, palaeobotany, evolutionary biology, biodiversity, genetics and modern molecular studies in order to develop environmental–evolutionary interpretations and applications. He was awarded two scientific Gold Medals – fittingly one for plant biology from the Indian Pteridological Society and one for geology from the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall. This treatise on gymnosperms, the manuscript for which was completed shortly before his death, is the culmination of 54 years of research, teaching and field study.

'This is truly a magnum opus by a world expert on the conifers and it has been fascinating, enjoyable and informative to read. It is based on the extensive travels of the author to everywhere that arborescent conifers grow. This has enabled the author to illustrate it with a wonderful collection of his personal and most informative photos of the conifers of the world. The text is a skilful combination of data from Palaeobotanic, molecular and field observations that show the history, evolution and contemporary status of this vitally important group of plants. It is the author's personal experience with each genus and familiarity with so much of the literature about conifers that makes this such interesting reading. There is no doubt that this book will remain a classic on the subject for many years to come.' Sir Ghillean Prance, FRS, former Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

• Preface and acknowledgements; Structure of the two volumes; Part I. Aims, Approaches and Methodologies: Part II. Phylogenetic Bases and Revised Taxonomic Structure: Part III. Living Arborescent Gynosperm Genetic Presentations: 1. Ginkgo; 2. Picea; 3. Cathaya; 4. Pinus; 5. Larix; 6. Pseudotsuga; 7. Abies; 8. Nothotsuga; 9. Tsuga; 10. Keteleeria; 11. Pseudolarix; 12. Cedrus; 13. Taxus; 14. Pseudotaxus; 15. Austrotaxus; 16. Cephalotaxus; 17. Amentotaxus; 18. Torreya; 19. Sciadopitys; 20. Cupressus; 21. Hesperocyparis; 22. Chamaecyparis; 23. Fokienia; 24. Thujopsis; 25. Thuja; 26. Xanthocyparis; 27. Juniperus; 28. Platycladus; 29. Microbiota; 30. Calocedrus; 31. Neocallitropsis; 32. Callitris; 33. Actinostrobus; 34. Widdringtonia; 35. Tetraclinis; 36. Libocedrus; 37. Papuacedrus; 38. Austrocedrus; 39. Pilgerodendron; 40. Diselma; Part IV. From Ecosystem Services to Conservation and Sustainability: Bibliography; Genus index.

Christopher N. Page (1942–2022) held a first class bachelor's degree in geology and a PhD in cytogenetics. Following positions at the University of Queensland and University of Oxford, he joined the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh as a specialist tree scientist. This provided him with a base for half a century of global study of conifers and ferns, including more than 10 cumulative years spent in the field on every continent except Antarctica. After leaving Edinburgh, he joined the University of Exeter in his retirement, where he continued to study ancient plant groups by integrating multi-sourced plant data with phylogenetic arrays. The author of 8 books and 150 journal papers, Dr Page was best known for bridging fields as diverse as geology, palaeobotany, evolutionary biology, biodiversity, genetics and modern molecular studies in order to develop environmental–evolutionary interpretations and applications. He was awarded two scientific Gold Medals – fittingly one for plant biology from the Indian Pteridological Society and one for geology from the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall. This treatise on gymnosperms, the manuscript for which was completed shortly before his death, is the culmination of 54 years of research, teaching and field study.

'This is truly a magnum opus by a world expert on the conifers and it has been fascinating, enjoyable and informative to read. It is based on the extensive travels of the author to everywhere that arborescent conifers grow. This has enabled the author to illustrate it with a wonderful collection of his personal and most informative photos of the conifers of the world. The text is a skilful combination of data from Palaeobotanic, molecular and field observations that show the history, evolution and contemporary status of this vitally important group of plants. It is the author's personal experience with each genus and familiarity with so much of the literature about conifers that makes this such interesting reading. There is no doubt that this book will remain a classic on the subject for many years to come.' Sir Ghillean Prance, FRS, former Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

• Preface and acknowledgements; Structure of the two volumes; Part I. Aims, Approaches and Methodologies: Part II. Phylogenetic Bases and Revised Taxonomic Structure: Part III. Living Arborescent Gynosperm Genetic Presentations: 1. Ginkgo; 2. Picea; 3. Cathaya; 4. Pinus; 5. Larix; 6. Pseudotsuga; 7. Abies; 8. Nothotsuga; 9. Tsuga; 10. Keteleeria; 11. Pseudolarix; 12. Cedrus; 13. Taxus; 14. Pseudotaxus; 15. Austrotaxus; 16. Cephalotaxus; 17. Amentotaxus; 18. Torreya; 19. Sciadopitys; 20. Cupressus; 21. Hesperocyparis; 22. Chamaecyparis; 23. Fokienia; 24. Thujopsis; 25. Thuja; 26. Xanthocyparis; 27. Juniperus; 28. Platycladus; 29. Microbiota; 30. Calocedrus; 31. Neocallitropsis; 32. Callitris; 33. Actinostrobus; 34. Widdringtonia; 35. Tetraclinis; 36. Libocedrus; 37. Papuacedrus; 38. Austrocedrus; 39. Pilgerodendron; 40. Diselma; Part IV. From Ecosystem Services to Conservation and Sustainability: Bibliography; Genus index.

Christopher N. Page (1942–2022) held a first class bachelor's degree in geology and a PhD in cytogenetics. Following positions at the University of Queensland and University of Oxford, he joined the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh as a specialist tree scientist. This provided him with a base for half a century of global study of conifers and ferns, including more than 10 cumulative years spent in the field on every continent except Antarctica. After leaving Edinburgh, he joined the University of Exeter in his retirement, where he continued to study ancient plant groups by integrating multi-sourced plant data with phylogenetic arrays. The author of 8 books and 150 journal papers, Dr Page was best known for bridging fields as diverse as geology, palaeobotany, evolutionary biology, biodiversity, genetics and modern molecular studies in order to develop environmental–evolutionary interpretations and applications. He was awarded two scientific Gold Medals – fittingly one for plant biology from the Indian Pteridological Society and one for geology from the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall. This treatise on gymnosperms, the manuscript for which was completed shortly before his death, is the culmination of 54 years of research, teaching and field study.

'This is truly a magnum opus by a world expert on the conifers and it has been fascinating, enjoyable and informative to read. It is based on the extensive travels of the author to everywhere that arborescent conifers grow. This has enabled the author to illustrate it with a wonderful collection of his personal and most informative photos of the conifers of the world. The text is a skilful combination of data from Palaeobotanic, molecular and field observations that show the history, evolution and contemporary status of this vitally important group of plants. It is the author's personal experience with each genus and familiarity with so much of the literature about conifers that makes this such interesting reading. There is no doubt that this book will remain a classic on the subject for many years to come.' Sir Ghillean Prance, FRS, former Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

• Preface and acknowledgements; Structure of the two volumes; Part I. Aims, Approaches and Methodologies: Part II. Phylogenetic Bases and Revised Taxonomic Structure: Part III. Living Arborescent Gynosperm Genetic Presentations: 1. Ginkgo; 2. Picea; 3. Cathaya; 4. Pinus; 5. Larix; 6. Pseudotsuga; 7. Abies; 8. Nothotsuga; 9. Tsuga; 10. Keteleeria; 11. Pseudolarix; 12. Cedrus; 13. Taxus; 14. Pseudotaxus; 15. Austrotaxus; 16. Cephalotaxus; 17. Amentotaxus; 18. Torreya; 19. Sciadopitys; 20. Cupressus; 21. Hesperocyparis; 22. Chamaecyparis; 23. Fokienia; 24. Thujopsis; 25. Thuja; 26. Xanthocyparis; 27. Juniperus; 28. Platycladus; 29. Microbiota; 30. Calocedrus; 31. Neocallitropsis; 32. Callitris; 33. Actinostrobus; 34. Widdringtonia; 35. Tetraclinis; 36. Libocedrus; 37. Papuacedrus; 38. Austrocedrus; 39. Pilgerodendron; 40. Diselma; Part IV. From Ecosystem Services to Conservation and Sustainability: Bibliography; Genus index.