List of gymnosperm families

The gymnosperms consist of five orders of seed plants, Cupressales, Cycadales, Ginkgoales, Gnetales and Pinales. They developed more than 350 million years ago, long before flowering plants, according to the fossil record. The name comes from the Greek for "naked seed"; the egg cells are not protected by ovaries, as in flowering plants.

All current gymnosperms are woody perennial plants, though herbaceous gymnosperm fossils are known from the Triassic period. Gymnosperms are divided into twelve extant families of trees, shrubs, and woody vines. Sequoiadendron giganteum, the giant redwood, is the largest tree in the world, Sequoia sempervirens, the coastal redwood, is the tallest, and Pinus longaeva the oldest. Ginkgo trees tolerate urban pollutants well, and are often planted in and near cities. The pine family is the main source of softwood timber, paper pulp and turpentine. The flexible wood of the yew family is used in longbows and musical instruments.

Glossary

From the glossary of botanical terms: deciduous: falling seasonally, as with bark, leaves, or petals evergreen: leaves persisting long enough that the plant is never without foliage at any time of the year unisexual: of one sex; bearing only male or only female reproductive organs woody: hard and lignified; not herbaceous

Families +Family and a common nameType genus and etymologyTotal genera; global distributionDescription and usesOrderType genus imagesAraucariaceae (kauri-tree family)Araucaria, after the Araucano people (Mapuche)3 genera, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere in southern South America, parts of the southwestern Pacific, and locally southeast Asia (Indonesia, Philippines)Evergreen trees growing to 5–70 m tall, usually with whorled branches. Many of the larger species are harvested for timber. CupressalesCupressaceae (cypress family)Cupressus, from Greek and Latin plant names30 genera, widespread in the Northern Hemisphere, and scattered in the Southern Hemisphere in tropical to southern temperate zonesTrees and shrubs, 0.3–118 m tall. Taxodium is an aquatic tree genus with roots that form knees in some species. Many species provide timber that resists fungal and termite damage. CupressalesCycadaceae (sago family)Cycas, from a Greek plant name1 genus, scattered widely around Southeast Asia, northern Australia, and parts of India and AfricaUnisexual trunked plants with leaf bases that periodically sprout new leaves. The raw plants are toxic for humans, but carefully prepared starches from some species are added to certain Asian dishes. CycadalesEphedraceae (ephedra family)Ephedra, from Greek and Latin plant names1 genus, in arid zones in northern temperate regions and the Andes and other parts of South AmericaMostly unisexual shrubs and vines. Generally, photosynthesis occurs in the branches rather than the leaves. Many plants contain the medicinal compound ephedrine. GnetalesGinkgoaceae (ginkgo family)Ginkgo, from Chinese and Japanese plant names1 genus, in eastern ChinaDeciduous unisexual trees with fan-like leaves, 20–35 m tall. Trees nearly identical to the modern Ginkgo are frequently found in the fossil record from the Mesozoic Era. GinkgoalesGnetaceae (gnetum family)Gnetum, from a Maluku or Malay plant name1 genus, scattered in the tropicsUnisexual woody vines, and occasionally trees. At least two species are cultivated or gathered for food in Africa and Indonesia. Some plants provide fibre and wood. GnetalesPinaceae (pine family)Pinus, from a Latin plant name11 genera, widespread in the Northern Hemisphere, marginal in the Southern Hemisphere (Sumatra)Evergreen and deciduous conifers, mostly trees and some shrubs, 1–100 m tall; often with heavily scented resin. Leaves are needle-shaped or linear. Many of the larger species are harvested for timber; several species are grown commercially for pine nuts. Many species are grown as ornamental plants, and also for christmas trees. PinalesPodocarpaceae (yellowwood family)Podocarpus, from Greek for "stalked fruit"20 genera, scattered in the Southern Hemisphere, and locally in the Northern Hemisphere in east and southeast Asia, and in and near Central America and the CaribbeanEvergreen trees and shrubs, 0.2–60 m tall, with a few species that grow in water or on other plants. Timber production has decreased due to overharvesting. CupressalesSciadopityaceae (kōyamaki family)Sciadopitys, from Greek for "umbel" or "parasol" (the leaves) + "pine"1 genus, in JapanEvergreen trees to 40 m tall with unisexual cones and photosynthetic branchlets CupressalesTaxaceae (yew family)Taxus, from a Latin plant name5 genera, scattered mainly in the Northern HemisphereEvergreen shrubs and trees 1–40 m tall with berry-like cones, seed toxic in some species CupressalesWelwitschiaceae (tumbo family)Welwitschia, after Friedrich Welwitsch (1806–1872)1 genus, in desert regions of southwestern Africa near the coastUnisexual plants with short, concave stems and two (occasionally three) large torn leaves. Some individuals live for more than a thousand years. GnetalesZamiaceae (coontie family)Zamia, from a Latin plant name9 genera, scattered widely in the tropics and subtropicsUnisexual trunked plants with leaf bases that periodically sprout new leaves. Seeds of Dioon edule are prepared and used in some tortillas. Cycadales

List of gymnosperm families

Bron en licentie