Seed-bearing Plants fall into two major categories Angiosperms Gymnosperms

Seed-bearing Vascular Plants fall into two major categories Gymnosperms – seeds naked on surface of cone scale Angiosperms – seeds enclosed in a ripened ovary and flowers are produced

GYMNOSPERM CHARACTERISTICS From Greek words gymnos (naked) and sperma (seed) Both Male and Female cones

Land Plants

Bryophytes Pteridophytes

Angiosperms Gymnosperms Flowers and Fruits Pteridophyte Seeds Bryophytes Vascular Tissue

Seed-bearing plants also produce pollen

Five Living Seed Plant Phyla Cycadophyta Ginkgophyta Pinophyta or Coniferophyta Gnetophyta Anthophyta Gymnosperms Angiosperms

Living Gymnosperm Phyla Conifers - Pinophyta or Coniferophyta Cycadophyta - Cycads Gnetophyta - Gnetophytes Ginkgophyta - Ginkgos

Conifers – the most conspicuous and common gymnosperms

Conifers About 70 genera with about 630 species

Conifers Conifers are well represented in the fossil record Sequoia affinis

Conifers are of great ecological importance Conifers are the dominant members of the vast Boreal forests (Taiga)

Conifers are of great ecological importance Conifers are very important members of many types of ecosystems

Conifers are of great economic importance Edible Seeds Crates, Boxes, Matchsticks, Furniture Telephone Poles Turpentine and Rosin (Resin) Fuel (Pitch) Pulpwood Ornamentals Pharmaceuticals (Taxol)

There are Seven Living Families of Conifers Pinaceae - Pine family Araucariaceae - Araucaria family Podocarpaceae - Yellow-wood family Sciadopityaceae - Umbrella-pine family Cupressaceae - Cypress family Cephalotaxaceae - Plum-yew family Taxaceae - Yew family

Five of the Most Familiar Groups of Conifers Norfolk Island Pines Pines, Firs, Spruces Sequoias and Redwoods Junipers and Cedars Yews

The Largest, Tallest, and the Oldest Plants are Conifers The Largest, Tallest, and the Oldest Plants are Conifers. All found in California Giant Sequoias of the California Sierras are the largest Coastal Redwoods are the tallest Bristlecone pines of the California White Mountains are the oldest They include some of the largest organisms

Pines - genus Pinus of the family Pinaceae Most familiar of all conifers About 90 species

Vegetative Characters of Pine

Pine Stems Extensive branching Christmas tree shape Very woody

Pine Leaves Needles produced in clusters (fascicles) of 1 to 5

Pine – Reproductive Structures

Pines produce pollen and seeds in cones

Pines are Monecious Individual plants produce both pollen cones and seed cones Seed Cone C

Pines are Monecious Individual plants produce both pollen cones and seed cones Pollen Cone C

Pollen cones produce pollen C

Pine Pollen Wind pollination is facilitated by pollen morphology.

Ovulate or Seed Cones Produce Seeds Young seed cone Cone scale C Mature seed cone

Conifer Seed reminder

Conifer Cones Yew (aril) Pine Giant Sequoia Juniper Bald Cypress

Conifer Leaves

Map of Living and Fossil Members of Taxodiaceae (Redwood Family)

Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides and Coastal Redwood Sequoia sempervirens

Cycadophyta the Cycads

Cycads Appeared on Earth 250 MYA Cycads Appeared on Earth 250 MYA Greatest abundance and diversity during the Jurassic Declined sharply during the Cretaceous radiation of the angiosperms.

Cycad seeds are toxic to humans Cyanobacteria in roots of cycads Flying foxes eat neurotoxic cycad seeds Humans eat the flying foxes Humans get sick (neurological disorders)

Cycads Australian Mexican African

Only Cycad Native to the US In Florida Zamia integrifolia Cycads contain cycasin, a toxic secondary plant chemical. Cycads are toxic to humans, dogs and livestock. Cycasin is found in the atala butterfly and other organisms find it distasteful and avoid eating it. Host Plant for Atala Butterfly

Gymnosperms Cycads Conifers Ginkgos

Bryophytes Pteridophytes