By far the largest group of living gymnosperms are the conifers ( pines , cypresses , and relatives ) , followed by cycads , Gnetales ( Gnetum , Ephedra and Welwitschia ) , and Ginkgo ( a single living species ) . By far the largest group of living gymnosperms are the conifers ( pines , cypresses , and relatives ) , followed by cycads , Gnetales ( Gnetophyta , Ephedra and Welwitschia ) , and Ginkgo ( a single living species ) .