SATISH PRADHAN DNYANASAHANA COLLEGE, THANE(W) S.Y.BSc SEMESTER IV BOTANY PAPER I UNIT III Economic Importance of Gymnosperms By Miss. Shweta Chavan DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY SATISH PRADHAN DNYANASAHANA COLLEGE, THANE(W)

Economic importance of Gymnosperms Wood Resins Essential oils & tannins Fatty oils Paper Food Medicine Decoration Other uses

Wood  TIMBER – Because of their different properties the coniferous wood is used for various purposes The heavy and durable coniferous wood of Pinus, Taxus, Sequoia, Cupressus, etc. is used as building material, in furniture, railway sleepers, packing cases, poles etc.  The wood of Cedar (Cedrus) is durable, oily, sweet scented and generally without resin ducts. C. deodara (deodar) is one of the most important timbers of N. India. It is resistant to insect pests due to which it is used for making doors, poles, furniture, beams, carriages etc

Cedrus deodara Taxus

Agathis Instrument prepared from Agathis wood

Continues …….. The wood of Araucaria is heavy so it is used in making doors, bus chassis, carpentry etc. The wood of Abies species is used in the manufacture of sound board of musical instruments, boxes, planks, cabinet, paper pulp etc. A. concolor wood is suitable for keeping dairy products.  The wood of Agathis is comparatively stronger and used in building construction, boats, wooden machinery etc. The soft wood of Podocarpus totara is resistant to mine borer, hence it is used for dock and sea work as well as bridges and ship building.

RESINS Excretory products of many conifers which makes the wood more durable. Insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents Superior grade resins - in varnishes, enamels, plasters, medicines and ointments. Inferior grade resins - yellow laundry soap, printing ink, oil cloths, insulators, oil and grease, insecticide, adhesives, plastics and shoe polish. Types of resins, their sources and the economic importance varies

Abies concolor Abies White fir

Types of resins Types of resins Sources Economic importance Oleoresins- a mixture of rosin (gum) and essential oil (turpentine). Pinus roxburghii in varnishes, as a solvent, in stain remover, enamel, waxes, inks, crayons, insecticides, soaps etc. Copals- a hard resin with very little essential oil, e.g. Kauri copal kauri pine i.e. Agathis australis. Fossilized copal is considered superior to fresh one. Copal is used for interior work, in enamels, linoleum, water proofing compound etc. Canada Balsam - obtained from Abies balsamea very high refractive index  nearing that of glass. So it is used as a mounting medium for microscopic objects. Amber- yellow, brown to black, hard, brittle with aromatic odour  fossil resin secreted by extinct pine (Pinus succinifera) It is used in medicine and x-ray therapy. It is used in beads, ornaments, cigarette holders

ESSENTIAL OILS species of Abies, Cedrus, Juniperus, Thuja use in the manufacture of soaps, perfumes, room fresheners, deodorants, disinfectants, medicines on cough, cold, rheumatism, cuts, wounds, eczema, and other skin diseases Cedar wood oil is used in histological work and with oil immersion lenses of the microscope.

PAPER- Superior quality of writing and printing paper -wood of Picea, Abies etc; Craft paper is obtained from Pinus. In India, Pinus roxburghii, provides excellent quality pulp while craft paper is obtained from Cryptomeria japonica.  Rayon, transparent and photographic film, lacquers etc are derived from wood pulp of Picea and Tsuga.

Food Starch from stem of Cycas revoluta, C. circinalis is known as 'sago'. Starch is also obtained from Zamia and Microzamia in India and other Asian countries seeds of Pinus girardiana (Chilgoza) roasted and eaten  in India, Tibet and Afghanistan. In Italy and Spain, the seeds of P. ninea are used in soups and  desserts. In N. America, Pinus seeds are used in manufacture of nut-coffee, caramels, candies and other sweets. The seeds of Araucaria, Ginkgo are roasted and form an important food article in Chile and Japan. 

Zamia

Medicines alkaloid ephedrine extracted from Ephedra. It is an important ingredient in the cough syrup due to dilating action of the bronchial tube. It also contracts mucous membranes and is used in nasal drops and inhalants. extract of Ginkgo biloba is used in the treatment of cerebral insufficiency and vertigo. leaves of Taxus are used in asthma, bronchitis, hiccough, epilepsy and for indigestion. Taxol obtained from T. brevifolia is effective against ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma and colon cancer.

Decoration Cycas is cultivated in gardens and parks as ornamental plant. Picea, Abies and Araucaria are ceremonially used as Christmas tree. Conifers like Juniperus and Pinus are used as a good source material for bonsai. Leaves of Cycas are used in flower arrangement.  

THANK YOU…….