Exercise 6 - Realm of Gymnosperms

• Seed-producing plants can be further differentiated by the presence or absence of an ovary (the fruit) which serves as the protective layer enveloping seeds.
• Plants with unenclosed seeds are classified as Gymnosperms
• Gymnosperms may be classified under

  these four major groups:

  • Cycadophyta
  • Ginkgophyta
  • Coniferophyta/Pinophyta
  • Gnetophyta.
• Conifer Shoot System

  • Acicular leaves – long needle-like leaves
  • Fascicle- bundle of leaves and may be 1 leaf (monofoliar) or 2 to 5 (multifoliar)
  • Terminal bud -serves as the primary growing point of plants found at the tips of stems, and
  • Lateral buds -growing point found near the leaves and may become vegetative shoots such as stems or leaves or reproductive structures such as flowers
• Vascular Tissues in Conifer Stem and Roots

  • Xylem - transports water from roots to shoots
  • Phloem - transports photosynthates from shoots down to roots
  • Pericycle - a thin layer of parenchyma or sclerenchyma cells at the outermost part of a stele
• What is the Scientific name, and family of the species presented in the picture below?

  Scientific Name: Zamia furfuracea (Cardboard Cycad)

  Family: Zamiaceae

  
• What is the genus, family, and order presented in the picture below?

  Genus: Auracaria

  Family: Araucariaceae

  Order: Pinales

  
• What is the Scientific Name and its Family presented in the picture below?

  Scientific Name: Agathis dammara (Almaciga)

  Family: Araucariaceae

  
• Conifers are distinct from other gymnosperm groups because of the presence of cones