Question

Explain why female cones are so well reinforced and often armed with ferocious looking spikes?

Answer 1

Answer:Conifers Conifers produce cones in the spring—malecones and female cones. The small non-woody malecones produce pollen grains. A pollen grain is amicroscopic male gametophyte that contains only 3cells, one of which is a sperm. The larger female cones produce ovules, eachcontaining a microscopic female gametophytecontaining an egg; the ovule will develop into a seedafter pollination. Maturation of the female cones forsome species, such as pines, may require two years. Conifers rely upon wind to disperse the pollengrains and bring them to the female cones, and tocarry away the seeds. Conifer seeds are usuallywinged -- having a papery extension of the seed coatto aid in wind dispersal.Conifer leaves (needles) Most conifers are “evergreen” and do not drop their leaves in the winter when itis cold and a lot of the water is tied up in snow and ice. The surface area of conifer leavesis much smaller than that of broadleaf trees and has a thick waxy covering. These areadaptations to surviving cold winters when very little water can be transported up from theground. They are well adapted to colder northern latitudes and higher mountain elevations; inthese habitats, retaining their leaves also helps conifers get a “quick start” and make the most of theshort growing season.B. Ginkgo and Cycad The GINKGO tree is the sole surviving member of an evolutionaryline that extends back to the Paleozoic; it also was a dominant tree duringthe Carboniferous period. Known from fossils, it was thought extinct untilwestern explorers discovered it in the 1800s growing in temple gardens inthe mountains of China. The shape of the leaf and the branching pattern ofthe veins are considered to be primitive traits. The CYCADS are non-flowering seed plants that look like very short- stemmed palms. Some cycads have the common name of “Sago Palm” which is a misnomer; it’s not a palm; palms are flowering seed plants; these plants produce ‘naked’ seeds on a large central cone, a more primitive trait

Explanation:

Answer 2

Explanation:

• Conifers creates cones in the "spring—male cones" and "female cones".
• The small non-woody male cones generate pollen grains.
• A pollen grain is a "microscopic male gametophyte" which holds only three cells, in that one is sperm.
• The larger female cones give ovules, each containing a microscopic female gametophyte holding an egg; the ovule will mature into a seed after pollination.
• "Maturation of the female" cones for some species and it is pines, may need two years.
• Conifers rely upon the wind to "disperse the pollen grains" and take them to the "female cones", and to carry away the seeds.

To know more:

Write the difference between male and female 'cones' of pinus.

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