GYMNOSPERMS

Renzo D. Romero
Department of Biology
College of Arts and Sciences
Our Lady of Fatima university
Gymnosperm
• Derived from the two Greek word: gymnos, meaning naked,
and sperma, a seed.
• The name refers to the exposed nature of the seed
• More advanced than ferns – do not have spores, they have
seeds.
• Seed of the gymnosperms lack a protective enclosure
• At this time, there are four living phyla of gymnosperms:
1. Pinopyta (Conifers)
2. Ginkgophyta (Ginkgo)
3. Cycadophyta (Cycads)
4. Gnetophyta (Gnetophytes)
Female Gymnosperm
Male Gymnosperm
Pollen grains
 Gymnosperm life cycle
• Exhibits alternation of generations
• Sporophyte generation (2n) is dominant
• Gametophyte generation (1n) is contained in and
dependent on the sporophyte generation
Gymnosperm
lifecycle
 Sporophyte generation
• Sporophyte produces two types of spores
(heterosporous)
• Megasporangium – undergoes
meiosis to produce megaspores
(female gametophyte)
• Microsporangium – undergoes
meiosis to produce haploid microspores, germinate
to produce male gametophyte (pollen)
• Many gymnosperms use wind
for pollination and seed dispersal
 Wood produced by gymnosperms
• Gymnosperms have a very efficient and effective
vascular system
• Usually woody plants
• Xylem  wood of a tree
• Phloem  bark of the tree
• Wood is formed
from secondary growth
 4 Phyla Of
Gymnosperms
1. Phylum Pinophyta
2. Phylum Ginkgophyta
3. Phylum Cycadophyta
4. Phylum Gnetophyta
 Phylum Pinophyta: “Conifers”
A. Pines
• Largest genus of conifers
• Dominant trees in the vast coniferous forest of
the northern hemisphere
• Includes the world’s oldest known living
organism, the bristlecone pine
 Sumatran pine
Pinus merkusii

Benguet pine
Pinus insularis
Native to
white
mountain
of eastern
central
California
 Native to
Snake range
on the
central
Nevada-
Utah
 Structure and Form of Conifers
• Pine leaves are needle like and are arranged in
clusters of two to five leaves each
• Each cluster “fascicle” forms a cylindrical rod if the
leaves are held together
 Structure and Form of Conifers
• Pines often live in areas where the topsoil is frozen,
making it difficult for the roots to obtain water
In Leaves
• Epidermis – coated with a thick cuticle
• Stomata – recessed in small cavities
• Hypodermis – consists of one or several layers of
thick-walled cell
• Endodermis – surround the veins and other
associated tissue
 Structure and Form of Conifers
• Resin canals
– Develop in the mesophyll
– Resin is aromatic, antiseptic, and prevents the
development of fungi and deters insect attacks
– Other conifers uses resin in response to injury
 Phylum Ginkgophyta: “Ginkgo”
• Consists of only one
living species and often
called as the living fossil
• Derived from the
Chinese words meaning
“silver apricot”
• Often referred to as Ginkgo biloba
maidenhair trees
because of their
notched, broad, fan-
shaped leaves
 Phylum Ginkgophyta: “Ginkgo”
• They are deciduous and turn a bright golden yellow
before abscission in the fall
• Life cycle is similar to the pines
 Human relevance of Ginkgo
• In North America, male trees are preferred
for ornamental purposes because the seed
flesh has a nauseating odor and irritating to
the skin
• In China and Korea the seeds are considered
a delicacy
• Extracts have been clinically demonstrated to
improve blood circulation and supply in vital
organs
• The effects on memory enhancement, though,
have not been conclusively demonstrated
 Phylum Cycadophyta: “Cycads”
• Have the appearance of a cross between a tree fern
and a palm
• Basically slow growing plants have unbranched
trunks that grow more than 15 meters tall in a few
species and have a crown of large, pinnately divided
leaves
 Phylum Cycadophyta: “Cycads”
• Life cycles are similar to the conifers, except that
pollination of cycads is sometimes brought about by
beetles
• Cycads are dioecious with either pollen strobilli or
the seed strobili
 Phylum Gnetophyta: “Gnetophytes”
• Unique among
gymnosperms in having
vessels in the xylem
• Their tiny leaves are
produced in twos or
threes at a node and
turn brown soon after
they appear
• The stems and branches
are often whorled, are
slightly ribbed, and
photosynthetic when
they are young
 Ephedra
• The ovules produces a
small, tubular extension
resembling the neck of a
miniature bottle
• Sticky fluid oozes out in
this extension which
contains the micropyle
• Male and female strobili
may be produced on the
same plant or on
different ones Joint Fir
Ephedra sinica
 Gnetum
• The only group which
hast not been given an
English common name
• Most are vine-like, with
broad leaves similar to
those of the flowering
plants
• The best known species
of Gnetum, is a tree that
grows up to 10 meters Gnetum gnemon
WelwItschIa
• Has only one species which is confined to the
deserts of southwestern Africa
• Live up to 2000 years in these extreme conditions
• Only makes two leaves throughout its life. It takes
water from sea mist