Prestigious Plants - Gymnosperms

 ( Plant Index )

GYMNOSPERMAE
Gymnosperms

“Gymnosperm” comes from the composite Greek for “naked seed” or “revealed seed,” in contrast to the ovule-enclosed angiosperms. These seeds form in scales on leaves, in cones, or singularly (in the case of yew). 

This grouping of plants includes all coniferous trees, as well as a few other relevant tree and shrub groups. These divisions are of great note, and include the following genera:

• Pinophyta (Conifers)
• Pinales
• Cupressaceae
• Cupressus (Cypress)
• Juniperus (Juniper)
• Pinaceae
• Abies (Fir)
• Cedrus (Cedar)
• Cryptomeria (Japanese Cedar)
• Larix (Larch)
• Picea (Spruce)
• Pinus (Pine)
• Taxaceae
• Taxus (Yew)
• Ginkgoopsida
• Ginkgoales
• Ginkgoaceae
• Ginkgo
• Gnetophyta
• Ephredales
• Ephedraceae
• Ephedra

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DIVISION: Pinophyta/Coniferophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales

Conifers are the cone-bearing seed plants within the Gymnosperm clade. They form the division Pinophyta (also called Coniferophyta), and the class Pinopsida. 

While there have been a number of propositions for distinguishing this order into multiple subclasses, relevant to our research we will be treating the following families as belonging to this order:

• Pinophyta (Conifers)
• Pinales
• Cupressaceae
• Cupressus (Cypress)
• Juniperus (Juniper)
• Pinaceae
• Abies (Fir)
• Cedrus (Cedar)
• Cryptomeria (Japanese Cedar)
• Larix (Larch)
• Picea (Spruce)
• Pinus (Pine)
• Taxaceae
• Taxus (Yew)

* * * * * * *

DIVISION: Ginkgophyta

An ancient division of gymnosperms with only 1 surviving genus, Ginkgo, and 1 species, Ginkgo biloba.

• Ginkgoopsida
• Ginkgoales
• Ginkgoaceae
• Ginkgo

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DIVISION: Gnetophyta

This is a division containing only 3 genera, the only 1 of which is relevant to our interests (as far as we are aware) is Genus Ephedra.

• Gnetophyta
• Ephredales
• Ephedraceae
• Ephedra

* * * * * * *

See Also:

Prestigious Plants

• Plants
• Flowers
• Trees
• Moss and Lichen [Pending]
• Fungi [Pending]
• Cladistic Index
• Herbal Medicine [Pending]
• Resin, Incense, Balsam, and Lacquer [Pending]

* * * * * * *

Sources: 

( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conifer )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupressaceae )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginkgoopsida )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnetophyta )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnosperm )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinaceae )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinales )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxaceae )