4: Gymnosperm Identification (4/10) Flashcards
What are the gymnosperm families?
Ginkgoaceae
Welwitschiaceae
Gnetaceae
Ephedraceae
Pinaceae
Cupressaceae
Taxaceae
What families belong to the order Ginkgoales?
Ginkgoaceae
What families belong to the order Gnetales?
Welwitschiaceae
Gnetaceae
Ephedraceae (mormon tea family)
What families belong to the order Pinales?
Pinaceae (pine family)
What genera belong to the family Pinaceae?
Pinus
Abies
Picea
Pseudotsuga
Pinaceae
Flattened or linear needles arranged alternately or in bundles
Pollen cones have papery scales that fall off easily
Seed cones have thicker, often woody scales
Only Pinus has needles grouped into bundles
Pinus
What family is it part of and what are some distinguishing features of the genus?
Have 3 types of leaves: scale-like covering branches, needles grouped in bundles, sheathe leaves surrounding bundle bases
Seed cones have woody, tongue shaped scales
Part of Pinaceae
Abies
What family is it part of and what are some distinguishing features of the genus?
Smooth and round leaf attachment scar
Blunt-tipped needles except for Santa Lucia fir with huge sharp needles
Seed cone upright and scales fall off upon maturity
Part of Pinaceae
Picea
What family is it part of and what are some distinguishing features of the genus?
Seed cones hang down and have thin cone scales
Leaf bases decurrent on stem and leave woody pegs where they detach
Part of Pinaceae
Tseudotsuga
What family is it part of and what are some distinguishing features of the genus?
Long bracts hang out of cone scales
Long and acute buds
Part of Pinaceae
What families belong to the order Cupressales?
Cupressaceae (cypress family)
Taxaceae (yew family)
Taxaceae
Alternate, flattened needles
Ovule enveloped by arils
Pollen cones have stamen-like structures
Torreya californica
What family is it part of and distinguishing characteristics?
Huge flattened needles with pointed tips that are bigger than the other genera
Arils large and greenish
Pollen cones have stamen-like structures
Part of the Taxaceae family
Cupressaceae
Leaves scale- or awl-like
Woody or fleshy seed cones
Awl: small pointed tool
Leaves good to help distinguish between families, not genera
What genera are part of Cupressaceae?
Juniperus
Calocedrus
Sequoia
Sequoiadendron
Seed cones better for distinguishing between genera
Comparing scale-like to awl-like
Scale: close to stem
Awl-like: like a needle
Juniperus
What family is it part of and what are some distinguishing features of the genus?
Roundish seed cones with fleshy cone scales
Part of Cupressaceae
Seed cone in lab looked like a little blueberry
Calocedrus
What family is it part of and what are some distinguishing features of the genus?
Woody and elongated seed cones
Stems look flattened
Part of Cupressaceae
Sequoia
What family is it part of and what are some distinguishing features of the genus?
Seed cones borne at the ends of branches
Most leaves are flattened needles
Part of Cupressaceae
Sequoiadendron
What family is it part of and what are some distinguishing features of the genus?
Much larger seed cones than Sequoia
Part of Cupressaceae
Ephedra
Jointed stems
Greatly reduced (scale-like) leaves that fall off early
Reduced seed cones
Pollen cones resemble stamens in upper bracts
