NRM 255 Week 1 Species List: Families and Gymnosperms

Flashcards covering the botanical families and specific species characteristics for NRM 255 Week 1, including Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, Taxaceae, and Ginkgoaceae.

Cupressaceae

The Cypress family; cone-bearing trees or shrubs with scale-like leaves and seed cones range from woody scales to leathery, berry-like appearances.

Pinaceae

The Pine Family; generally evergreen trees with needle-like leaves in bundles called fascicles; woody scales in cones subtend a bract and $2$ winged seeds.

Taxaceae

The Yew family; cone-bearing evergreens with seed cones reduced to a solitary seed surrounded by a red, fleshy aril.

Ginkgoaceae

A monophyletic family containing the living fossil Ginkgo biloba; the name biloba refers to its two-lobed fan-shaped leaves.

Fascicle

A bundle or group of needles, characteristic of leaves in the Pinaceae family.

Taxodium distichum

Commonly known as Bald Cypress (Cupressaceae); features linear deciduous leaves, knees, and decay-resistant wood used for docks and boats.

Peltate scales

Shield-like scales found on the woody cones of species such as Taxodium distichum and Metasequoia glyptostroboides.

Pinus strobus

Eastern White Pine (Pinaceae); identified by $5$ flexible evergreen needles per fascicle and cylindrical cones $3-5$ inches long.

Juniperus virginiana

Eastern Redcedar (Cupressaceae); a shade-intolerant tree with blue berry-like cones and aromatic heartwood used for closet linings.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Dawn Redwood (Cupressaceae); has opposite deciduous linear leaves and box-like cones hanging on long stalks.

Tsuga canadensis

Eastern Hemlock (Pinaceae); a shade-tolerant tree with flat single needles, historically used for tannins and currently affected by HWA.

Aril

A modified fleshy cone scale, typically orange or red, that holds a single seed; characteristic of the Taxus (Yew) genus.

Taxol

A substance sourced from some Taxus species used as a treatment for various cancers.

Chamaecyparis thyoides

Atlantic White Cedar (Cupressaceae); grows in wet peaty acidic soils and provided charcoal for gunpowder during the Revolutionary War.

Ginkgo biloba

The only existing member of Ginkgoaceae; produces fan-shaped leaves and naked seeds with an unpleasant odor.

Tsuga caroliniana

Carolina Hemlock (Pinaceae); bushier than Eastern Hemlock with needles radiating from all sides, found on dry rocky cliffs.

Picea abies

Norway Spruce (Pinaceae); features upward swooping branches with drooping branchlets and large brown cylindrical cones $4-6$ inches long.

Pinus virginiana

Virginia Pine (Pinaceae); characterized by $2$ twisted needles per fascicle and the ability to quickly invade abandoned eroded farmlands.