KINGDOM PLANTAE - TAXONOMY

ALGAL PhylaRhodophyta – Red Algae

Phaeophyta – Brown Algae

Chlorophyta – Green Algae

Bryophyta - Mosses

Tracheophyta – Vascular Plants

Subphylum – Pteridophyta - Ferns

Subphylum Spermopsida – Seed Plants

Gymnosperms – Naked Seeded Angiosperms – Enclosed Seeded

Monocots Dicots

GYMNOSPERMS

Phylum Tracheophyta

-Subphylum Spermopsida – “Sperm” = “Seed”

CYCADS – 100 Species

CONIFERS

GINKOS – 1 species remains

GYMNOSPERMS- “Naked Seeded” Most Common Class – The Conifers

• Typical coniferous forest primarily spruce, fir and pine.

• Not all coniferous forests have the same appearance, some conifers are better suited for a warmer wetter climate.

This is an old-growth coniferous forest consisting of Giant Sequoia trees

CAUTION

WATCH FOR FALLING LUMBER

Did you ever go back and study your family TREE?

CAPILANO SUSPENSION BRIDGE – North Vancouver

Here is a coniferous forest located in a temperate rainforest.

In a temperate rainforest there is year-round precipitation through four seasons; typically warm summers and cool winters

CHARACTERISTICS COMMON TO CONIFERS

•“Conifer” – Means “Cone Bearer”.

•Leaves are adapted to take needle shape, a thick cuticle and reduced surface area allows conifers to grow in dry cold climates without losing too much water.

•Almost all conifers are evergreens : They do NOT shed their needles seasonally.

Conifer wood has growth rings of XYLEM

The meristematic tissue called VASCULAR CAMBIUM produces XYLEM to the inside and PHLOEM to the outside.

AGING A TREE

A Forestry Technician uses a tree borer to take out a tree core sample

There are two types of Xylem rings.

Spring Wood (Xylem) is a lighter colour.

- Rapid cell division gives rise to very large cells

Summer Wood (Xylem) is darker.

- Tissue grows slower and cells are more compact

THE CONE BEARERS

Mature female (ovulate) cone

Several female cones on a Ponderosa Pine

Clusters of female cones on a Spruce Tree

What’s Wrong With This Picture? This is a European Larch a close relative to a Tamarack. Its still a conifer (cone-bearer) but its not a true “EVERGREEN”

Male Cone

Female Cone

Conifers can be classified by the following:

Characteristics of the bark

Needle shape, length and texture

Cone size, shape and scale patterns

A Renewable ResourceProperties:

LIGHT but very STRONG

These properties make it a perfect building material

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3554jk38qU

Clear Cut Logging Erosion of Soil

We need trees but need to be careful in logging practices and reforestation.