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Key Features

SPECIES LIST 1 (The Pine Family)
(web, powerpoint)

Diagnostic or key feature: A characteristic that distinguishes one species (genus, family) from other species (genera, families).

Concept of classification

KINGDOM--- Plantae- multicellular and photosynthesize
DIVISION----Tracheophyta- big or upright, with tissue that conducts water conducting and strengthens SUBDIVISION---Spermatophyta- produce seeds
CLASS---- Gymnospermae versus Angiospermae
ORDER----Coniferales
FAMILY----Pinaceae
GENUS---Pinus
SPECIES----Pinus contorta
SUBSPECIES----Pinus contorta contorta

GYMNOSPERMS:

Key feature:

• "naked" seeds
• xylem composed only of tracheids (long, narrow, hollow cells with thick walls)

Family Pinaceae: no diagnostic feature required (for those that want to know, key features are unfused bract and cone scale, cone scale flattened, terminally winged seeds)

Genus Pinus (pine):

Key features:

• persistent, needle-like leaves in fascicles
• cones woody

Subgenera: hard pines, soft pines

subgenus	fascicles	fascicle sheath	cone scales	wood
hard pines	2 or 3 leaves	persistent	thick, with prickle or spine	hard
soft pines	5 leaves	deciduous	thin, rounded, no prickle or spine	soft

Hard pine species:

Pinus coulteri: large cones (12-16"), long leaves in 3's (10-12") Pinus ponderosa: thick orange bark, medium sized cones (4-6") , medium length leaves (6-8") Pinus contorta: small tree, small cones (2-3"), cone scales with short prickle (serotinous or open)

Soft pine species:

• Pinus monticola: slender, flexible needles; slender cone with thin scales

Genus Abies (true fir):

Key features:

• leaves persistent, linear, sessile, with notched tip
• smooth, circular leaf scars on twig
• cruciform buds
• cones upright, leathery shatter when mature

 

Species of Abies are distinguished on the basis of leaf length, 3-D orientation, number of stomatal bands

• Abies grandis: leaves 1-2" long (2 sizes), 2-ranked, 2 stomatal bands
• Abies amabilis: leaves 1" long, several ranked (mostly upward), 2 prominant stomatal bands, deep notch
• Abies lasiocarpa: leaves 1" long, several ranked, 3 faint stomatal bands
• Abies procera: leaves 1" long, several ranked, 4 faint stomatal bands; cones with exserted bracts

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