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Lifecycle of a Gymnosperm
-starts with two different haploid gametophytes, a male cone, which hold pollen, and female cone, which holds the egg
-wind carries the pollen and that pollen may find an egg to fertilize.
-the fertilized egg then turns into an diploid embryo
-this embryo then develops into a seed
-this seed gives protection to the embryo, as well as stores nutrients for the embryo
-the seed then germinates and a seedling begins to grow.
-this seedling grows even more, eventually into a mature sporophyte, which is a tree.
-the tree produces male and female cones, and the cycle continues.
-starts with two different haploid gametophytes, a male cone, which hold pollen, and female cone, which holds the egg
-wind carries the pollen and that pollen may find an egg to fertilize.
-the fertilized egg then turns into an diploid embryo
-this embryo then develops into a seed
-this seed gives protection to the embryo, as well as stores nutrients for the embryo
-the seed then germinates and a seedling begins to grow.
-this seedling grows even more, eventually into a mature sporophyte, which is a tree.
-the tree produces male and female cones, and the cycle continues.
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Examples of Gymnosperms
Conifers- trees that usually keep their foliage year round, and can grow very tall and very old, and most have needle-like leaves. Conifers include pines, firs, spruce, and more.
Conifers- trees that usually keep their foliage year round, and can grow very tall and very old, and most have needle-like leaves. Conifers include pines, firs, spruce, and more.
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Ginkgo tree- native to China and called a "living fossil" because it is the only surviving species of an ancient group of trees that lived before the dinosaurs
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Cycads-live in many tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world. they reseamble ferns because of the presence od fronds, but are not ferns because of the formation of male and female cones.
Bryophytes and Pteridophytes vs. Gymnosperms
Gymnosperms are much more advanced in evolution than mosses and ferns. Gymnosperms have a full vascular system, so they can grow much higher because they have more support and are better able to transport water and nutrients through the tree and branches. They also have developed male and female cones. The male cone produces pollen and the female cone produces the eggs. The evolution of pollen makes it easier for the trees to reproduce because the wind blows the pollen to fertilize the egg, so it doesn't rely on water to carry the sperm like in pteridophytes and bryophytes.
Gymnosperms are much more advanced in evolution than mosses and ferns. Gymnosperms have a full vascular system, so they can grow much higher because they have more support and are better able to transport water and nutrients through the tree and branches. They also have developed male and female cones. The male cone produces pollen and the female cone produces the eggs. The evolution of pollen makes it easier for the trees to reproduce because the wind blows the pollen to fertilize the egg, so it doesn't rely on water to carry the sperm like in pteridophytes and bryophytes.
References
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/coniferous-trees/
http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/ginkgo-biloba
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/coniferous-trees/
http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/ginkgo-biloba