Biology 337: Divisions ( Glossary | Divisions )
Taken Spring 2005, with Dr. Plant. Information here is based primarily upon notes from class but some from external sources like the web.

Hepatophyta
Anthocerophyta
Bryophyta
Psilotophyta
Lycophyta
Sphenophyta
Pterophyta
Rhyniophyta
Zosterophyllophyta
Trimerophytophyta
Cycadophyta
Gingkophyta
Coniferophyta
age Permian
division-name Gingkophyta
evolution Ancestors are unknonw.
gametophyte .
habit .
leaves megaphyll
Most distinctive feature of plant.
Consist of:
  • Petiole

  • Fan-shaped lamina divided into 2 lobes.

  • Deciduous and leaves are lost at end of growing season

life-cycle Homosporous and Heterosporous
Dioecious
Ginkgo produces flagellated sperm that must swim to the archegonium
Fertilization itself often occurs after shedding of ovule. Another primitive trait.
Similar to cyads in reproduction and production of sperm.
Gingko and Cycads are the only gymnosperms to produce motile sperm.
links Handy quick reference
members Only one living member left, Gingko Biloba (which is possibly the oldest living seed plant)
rhizome .
roots .
sporangia .
stems Typical of gymnosperms, pith and cortex are small
Gingko produces 2 types of shoots:
  • Long shoots - widely separated leaves and nodes

  • Spur shoots - slow gorwing shoots with crowded nodes (not much growing means that it looks like there's an explosion of leaves)

Secondary growth is similar to the conifers.
  • 2ndary growth and wood structure

  • Has spur shoots

stomata .
traits .
vascular-system eustele
Vascular cambium produces a large amount of secondary xylem dominated by tracheids. Conifer-like wood.
Pith and cortex are small
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