Gymnosperms

Question 1

What are the characteristics of the family Cupressaceae?

Answer 1

Scale-like leaves overlapping
Evergreen
-Opposite or whorls of 3
-Ground juniper only has needles (sharp)
-Cones woody (<12 scales) or fleshy (berry-like)
-Monoecious or dioecious

Question 2

Characteristics of the family Pinaceae

Answer 2

Linear needle-like leaves borne singly or in fascicles of 2, 3, or 5.
Some are deciduous
Monecious
Male cones small and catkin-like
Female cones woody, 2 seeds/scale

Question 3

Characteristics of Taxaceae

Answer 3

Evergreen
Linear needle-like leaves, flat, borne singly on stem
Monecious or dioecious
-Fleshy ARIL surround seeds
ONE species: Western Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia)

Question 4

Characteristics of Ginkgoaceae

Answer 4

Flat, broad, leaves
Dioecious
Male cones in catkins, and female cones lacking->two ovules subtended by fleshy seed coat

Question 5

Overlapping flat, scale like-needles-appearing opposite

Small rose-bud like cones (12-18mm)

Answer 5

Thuja plicata
Cupressaceae
western red cedar

Question 6

scale like leaves, rollable (round)

Berry like cones but turns scaly (up to 6); triangular or umbrella shaped. Fused but separate at maturity (very tiny)

Answer 6

Chamaecyparis nootkatensis
Cupressaceae
yellow-cedar

Question 7

SOFT needle-like leaves with rounded apices, blunt, straight needles. Shiny above, whitish beneath, appear SESSILE. Individual needles.
Cones barrel shaped, erect, and disintegrate by scales

Answer 7

Abies balsamea
Pinaceae
balsam fir

Question 8

SOFT flat needles
Deciduous
Long shoots have single borne needles, short shoot have fascicles of 12-20 needles
Cones mini roses 1-2.5cm long, bracts shorter than scales

Answer 8

Larix laricina
Pinaceae
Tamarack, larch

Question 9

SOFT flat needles
Deciduous
Long shoots have needles borne singly, short shoots with fascicles of 15-30 needles
Cones have thick leathery scales with smooth margins, 2.5-4cm long. Chunky cones

Answer 9

Larix sibirica
Pinaceae
Siberian larch

Question 10

Stiff, Straight, Square, Sharp needles, spirally arranged
Individually borne
White line on needles
Glabrous shoots
Cones cylindrical, stalkless, pendulous. SMOOTH margins

Answer 10

Picea glauca
Pinaceae
White spruce

Question 11

Stiff, Straight, Square, sharp needles, spirally arranged. No fascicles. White line on needles
Fine reddish hairs (pubescence on new shoots b/w needles
Cones ovoid (egg-shaped), pendulous, with papery scales bearing erose margins (2-3 cm long)

Answer 11

Picea mariana
Pinaceae
black spruce

Question 12

Stiff, Square, very Sharp (pungent) and curved inwards. No fascicles
Cones long and cylindrical (5-12 cm) with toothed margins, covered in resin

Answer 12

Picea pungens
Pinaceae
blue spruce

Question 13

Slightly twisted sharp, short needles (2-4 cm)
2 needles per fascicle, enclosed in chaffy sheath
Cones any shape, pointing forward, un-armoured, serotinous, 3-5cm long

Answer 13

Pinus banksiana
Pinaceae
Jack pine

Question 14

Twisted needles, sharp, 3-7cm long
2 needles/fascicle
Cones any shape, pointing backward or at straight angles to branch. ARMOURED (small prickles at tip of scales). Serontinous

Answer 14

Pinus contorta var. latifolia
Pinaceae
Lodgepole pine

Question 15

Evergreen Shrub
Leaves curved, somewhat stiff, 3-6 cm long
2 needles/fascicle, chaffy sheath
Cones ovoid, inner margin has a dark band, 3-6 cm long

Answer 15

Pinus mugo
Pinaceae
Mugho pine

Question 16

Evergreen
Needles stiff but flexible, 12-25cm long
3 needles/fascicle, sometimes 2
Cones cylindrical to narrowly ovoid, sharp PRICKLES, 7-15 cm long

Answer 16

Pinus ponderosa
Pinaceae
Ponderosa pine

Question 17

Needles 5- 15 cm long, triangular in X-section
5 needles/fascicle, somewhat soft, blue-ish green
Cones cylindrical, pendulous, scales thing and rounded at tip 8-20cm long! Covered in fragrant resin

Answer 17

Pinus strobus
Pinaceae
Eastern white pine

Question 18

Evergreen
Needle-like leaves, twisted and sharp 4-8cm long
2 needles/fascicle, chaffy sheath
Cones any shape, point backwards on branch. Scales have diamond shaped pattern on surface
UNARMOURED
Open without fire

Answer 18

Pinus sylvestris
Pinaceae
Scots pine

Question 19

Terminal shoot flexible, curve away from wind
Evergreen
Needles, blunt, flat and have parallel sides.
No fascicles
Shiny green and grooved. tapers to a petiole
Cones are ovoid, blunt tipped and rectangular shaped scales. Smooth to erose margins. Cute and small (20-25mm)

Answer 19

Tsuga heterophylla
Pinaceae
western hemlock

Question 20

Needle-like leaves, flat, revolute margins. Abruptly pointed and base tapers to a petiole. Dark yellowish green and pale below
No fascicles
ARIL-dark blue seed in a red-fleshy cup

Answer 20

Taxus brevifolia
Taxaceae
western (Pacific) yew

Question 21

Fan shaped leaves, appearing parallel veined
2 lobed
Undulate margins
Monecious

Answer 21

Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgoaceae
ginkgo

Question 22

Needle like leaves 2-3 cm long. Flexible and flat, sharp pointed and narrow at base. No fascicles. White dots beneath. Sharp pointed buds. Cones Ovid with 3 pointed brats that extend beyond scale

Answer 22

Pseudotsuga menziesii Pinaceae Douglas Fir