Kingdom Plantae
Divisions

I. Magnoliophyta = angiosperms

Following are gymnosperm (naked seed) divisions

II. Cycadales (Cycads)
	[Grk. name for palm with cycad habid]
	10 Genera
	100 species

	A. Pinnately compound, palm- or fern- like leaves
	B. Dioecious
	C. Seeds borne on modified leaves 
		1. clustered around stem
		2. terminal compact cone
	D. Ornamental
	E. Subtropical - Tropical

III. Gnetales
	3 Genera
	70 species

	A. variable characteristics among genera
	B. xylem has vessels
	C. Gnetum
		1. tropical, most are lianas
		2. pinnately veined opposite leaves 
	D. Ephedra 
		1. xerophyte
		2. <1 cm leaves in whorls
		3. usually dioecious 
		4. Alkaloid, ephedrine, from Asiatic species
			used to contract blood vessels &
			alleviate asthma
	E. Welwitschia
		1. xerophyte in small region of SW Africa
		2. Only 2 big strap-like leaves (20 cm wide 
			& 2 meters long) with basal meristem

IV. Ginkgoales
	Monotypic Ginkgoaceae Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo, Maidenhair Tree)
	[Japanese name]
	
	A. Fan shaped "maiden hair" leaves with dichotomous venation
	B. Alternate
	C. Estipulate
	D. Long/short shoots
	E. Dioecious
	F. Yellow/orange fleshy seed coat smells bad when mature
		butyric acid - rancid butter
	G. Native to China, prevelant during Mesozoic (150 M YBP)
	H. Sacred to Buddhists
	I. Hardy city tree

V. Pinales (Conifers)
	[Latin name]
	6 Families (3 on campus)
	50 Genera
	550 species

Pinaceae (Pine Family)
	9 Genera
	200 species

I. Leaves
	A. Persistent or Deciduous
	B. Acicular (needle-like) or linear
	C. Alternate
	D. Single or in fasciles(extremely short shoots)

II. Female cones
	A. Bract and ovuliferous scale distinct
	B. Two inverted ovules/scale

III. Seeds
	A. Wingless or with terminal wing

IV. Economic Importance
	A. The most important lumber producing family in USA & world
	B. Southern Pines utilized in wood distillation industry
		methanol, turpentine, and navel stores
	C. Important source of wood pulp
	D. Christmas trees
	E. Ornamentals

V. Range
	A. Throughout N. hemisphere from Arctic to Tropics


Generic/species comparison

I. Pinus (Pine)
	[Latin name]
	100 species

	A. Fascicles of 2 - 5 acicular persistent leaves 
	B. Ovuliferous bracts shorter than ovuliferous scales
	C. Cones pendent, maturing in 2-3 seasons

	D. 5 leaves/fascicle 
		1. Pinus strobus (eastern white pine)

	E. 3 leaves/fascicle
		1. Pinus ponderosa (ponderousa pine)

	F. 2 leaves/fascicle
		1. Blue-green or silver green, twisted leaves
			a. P. sylvestris (Scots pine)
				[“of the forest”]
		2. Green leaves
			a. < 7.5 cm long
				P. mugo (Swiss mountain, mugo pine)
			b. > 7.5 cm long
				P. resinosa (Red Pine)
					[resinous]
					brittle leaves
				P. nigra (Austrian Pine)
					[black]
					flexible leaves

II. Larix (Larch, Tamarack)
	[Latin name]
	10 species

	A. Triangular or square acicular leaves borne
		singly or in clusters on spur shoots
	B. Deciduous
	C. Larix decidua (European Larch)
		[“deciduous”]
		30-50 scales on upright 18-40 mm cone
	D. Larix laricina (Tamarack, eastern larch)
		[“like european larch”]
		12-15 scales on upright 10-18 mm cone

III. Picea (Spruce)
	[“pitch”]
	35 species

	A. Most with square linear persistent leaves with sharp 		
		apices on peg-like projection 
	B. Picea abies (Norway spruce)
		[“tall tree”]
		1. Green leaves
		2. Reddish brown pendulous branches
		3. 10-16 cm pendent cones
	C. P. pungens (Colorado, Blue spruce)
		[“pungent” or “prickly”]
		1. Glaucous green stiff leaves perpendicular to stem
			with pungent taste
		2. Yellowish gray prostrate branches
	D. P. glauca (White spruce)
		[glaucous]
		1. Glaucous green more flexible leaves pointing toward 	
		apex with fetid odor
		2. Yellowish gray prostrate branches

IV. Tsuga (Hemlock)
	[Japanese name]
	10 species

	A. Flattened, linear leaves with rounded apices with twisted 	
		petioles on peg like projections
	B. Pendent cones
	C. Tsuga canadensis (Eastern, Canada Hemlock)
		1. Leaf margins serrulate, 2 white stomatal lines
		2. Two ranked leaves because of petioles

V. Pseudotsuga (Douglas-fir)
	[false hemlock]
	5 species

	A. Flattened, linear leaves with rounded/acute apices and  	
		very short petiole on slightly raised leaf cushions
	B. Distinc odor when crushed
	C. Pendent cones with 3 lobed bracts longer than rounded
		ovuliferous scales
	D. Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir)
		[Archibald Menzies, naturalist]
		1. Smooth twigs with resin blisters

VI. Abies (Fir)
	[“tall tree”]
	42 species

	A. Most with flattened, linear leaves with rounded apices and 
		balsam or turpentine like odor when crushed
	B. Ovuliferous bracts longer than ovuliferous scales, both
		dehisce from cone axis
	C. Abies concolor (White Fir)
		1. Glaucous leaves
		2. Stout, yellowish green to brownish green twigs