Taxonomy: Gymnosperms and Angiosperms

Question 1

Explain gymnosperms

Answer 1

• ## vascular seed plants

Question 2

Explain conifers

Answer 2

• pine, spruce, fir, cedar
• most diverse group of gymnosperms
• trees or shrubs ONLY
• wood contains tracheids, parenchyma cells in rays and resin ducts
• phloem contains sieve cells, NOT sieve tubes
• stress tolerators: can survive extreme winter and drought

Question 3

What features slow down transpiration in conifer needles?

Answer 3

1. Thick cuticle
2. sunken stomata
3. Stomatal plugs: wax tubules that hide the stomata

Question 4

Gymnosperms: Pine family

Answer 4

Largest family of conifers found mostly in boreal forests with >200 living species

Ex: fir, spruce, douglas-fir, larches

Question 5

Gymnosperms: Cypress family

Answer 5

Conifers that are able to grow in a wide range of conditions

Ex: Junipers, redwoods, and cypress

Question 6

Gymnosperms: Araucaria family

Answer 6

Wollemi pine grows in the souther hemisphere - not real pine

Question 7

Gymnosperms: Ginkgophytes

Answer 7

• Only one living species: ginkgo biloba
• Grown in urban parks and along streets

Question 8

Gymnosperms: Gnetophytes

Answer 8

Unique due to the presence of vessel elements

Question 9

Explain double fertilization in angiosperms

Answer 9

One sperm fuses with the egg, while the 2nd sperm fuses with the 2 polar nuclei (from megagametophyte) to create the endosperm (nourishes embryo)