Sunday, November 3, 2024

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
      • 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


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
      • 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


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

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See Also:

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