Gymnosperms

Question 1

What type of sporophytes do Cycadales have?

Answer 1

Dioecious

Question 2

Describe the dioecious gametophytes of a heterosporous life cycle.

Answer 2

Megaspores produce female gametophyte

Microspores produce male gametophyte

Question 3

Describe the features of the Cycadales?

Answer 3

Dioecious sporophytes
Multiflagellate sperm
Sporophyll with microsporangia
Coralloid roots with N fixing cyanobacteria

Question 4

Describe the features of the Ginkgoaceae.

Answer 4

Multiflagellate sperm
Dioecious
Dimorphic shoots
Pollination droplet exuded and retracted by ovule

Question 5

Describe the dioecious cones of Conifers.

Answer 5

Large, woody female cones

Ephemeral male cones

Question 6

What type of xylem do gymnosperms have?

Answer 6

Tracheids

Question 7

Describe the female cone of a Conifer.

Answer 7

Dwarf shoots with ovules and sterile scales all subtended by a bract

Question 8

Describe the female cone of the Pinaceae.

Answer 8

Ovules inverted
2 ovules per scale
Seeds with long terminal wing

Question 9

Describe the female cone of the Taxaceae.

Answer 9

Cone lost

Ovule with aril

Question 10

Describe the female cone of the Cupressaceae.

Answer 10

Microsporangia 2-10

Ovules 1-20 per scale

Question 11

What genera of Conifer are native to the UK?

Answer 11

Pinaceae
Taxaceae
Cupressaceae

Question 12

What are the features of the Pinaceae?

Answer 12

Needle or strap shaped leaves
Imbricate, spiral cone scales
2 ovules per cone scale
Seeds with a terminal wing
Inverted ovules

Question 13

What are the features of the Cupressaceae?

Answer 13

Scale like leaves
Cones scales usually tessellate
1-20 ovules per scale
Seeds with perimeter wing
Ovules not inverted

Question 14

Describe the features of Juniperus communis.

Answer 14

Needle like leaves (persistent juvenile state)

Cones made of 3 fleshy scales (look like berries)

Question 15

What are the features of the Taxaceae?

Answer 15

Seeds arillate, produced singly

No female cones