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Campus Conifers Gymnosperm Tree Specimens

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cedar 3

Campus Conifer Outcomes

  • Describe the taxonomic classification of conifers.
  • Distinguish between three types of conifers with needle-shaped leaves: pine, fir, and spruce.
  • Distinguish between two types of conifers with scale-like leaves: cedar and sequoia.
This video introduces the conifers.

From the class so far, are coniferous trees (conifers) taxonomically classified as gymnosperms or angiosperms?

Conifers trees bear their seeds in cones instead of fruits.  List two different examples of coniferous trees.

When do conifers lose their leaves if not all at once like deciduous trees?

conifer bark id

Conifers can be identified by bark, cone, leaves, and even overall shape.

We are using leaves as the method of classification as this works on even the youngest trees.

In this week\’s recitation activity, you will be using this dichotomous \”two-choice\” key to identify trees around campus.

dichoy key
Screen Shot 2019 10 26 at 10.30.15 PM

The other option is a visual key that uses two choices with picture cues.

 

 

To start using either of these keys to identify a conifer by its leaves, pick a leaf up from the ground under the tree.

bundles 1

Determine whether the leaves are in bundles or not in bundles.  These needle-shaped pine leaves are attached together at the base and are an example of a leaf bundle.  When you pick them up off the ground, there are two, three or even five needles attached together in a bundle, depending on the species.

Pine trees are an example of needle-like leaves in a bundle.

These fir leaves are also needle-shaped but are not in bundles; each leaf falls off individually.

not bundles
Both fir species and spruce species have needle-shaped leaves that are not in bundles.  Typically the fir needles are softer, you can run a stem through your fingers easily.  Generally the spruce leaves are sharp to the touch.
Fir

Fir

Spruce

Spruce

cedar 2

Not all conifers have needle-like leaves.  The cedar pictured here has scale-like leaves that overlap.

Cedar leaves are scale-like and flattened.  Sequoia also have scale-like leaves, but they are more three-dimensional and sharper to the touch.
Cedar

Cedar

Sequoia

Sequoia

Is this a pine, fir, spruce, cedar, or sequoia?

Identify these two trees, choosing from pine, fir, spruce, cedar, or sequoia.
Flattened scale-like leaves

Flattened scale-like leaves

Leaves not in bundles & sharp to the touch

Leaves not in bundles & sharp to the touch

conifer blue spruce 1

Check your knowledge.  Can you:

  • describe the taxonomic classification of conifers?
  • distinguish between three types of conifers with needle-shaped leaves: pine, fir, and spruce?
  • distinguish between two types of conifers with scale-like leaves: cedar and sequoia?

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