1. Seed-bearing Plants fall into two major categories
Angiosperms
Gymnosperms

2. 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

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

4. Land Plants

5. Bryophytes
Pteridophytes

6. Angiosperms
Gymnosperms
Flowers and Fruits
Pteridophyte
Seeds
Bryophytes
Vascular Tissue

7. Seed-bearing plants also produce pollen

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

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

10. Conifers – the most conspicuous and common gymnosperms

11. Conifers
About 70 genera with about 630 species

12. Conifers Conifers are well represented in the fossil record
Sequoia affinis

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

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

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

17. 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

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

19. 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

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

21. Vegetative Characters of Pine

22. Pine Stems
Extensive branching
Christmas tree shape
Very woody

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

24. Pine – Reproductive Structures

25. Pines produce pollen and seeds in cones

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

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

28. Pollen cones produce pollenC

29. Pine Pollen
Wind pollination is facilitated by pollen morphology.

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

31. Conifer Seed reminder

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

33. Conifer Leaves

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

35. Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides and Coastal Redwood Sequoia sempervirens

36. Cycadophyta the Cycads

37. 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.

38. 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)

39. Cycads
Australian
Mexican
African

40. 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

41. Gymnosperms
Cycads
Conifers
Ginkgos

42. Bryophytes
Pteridophytes