Gymnosperms have seeds that are not enclosed in a fruit. Some examples are pine, spruce, and fir. Gymnosperms can produce without freestanding water so they can grow in hotter, dryer climates. Some characteristics are that they don't produce flowers, they don't produce fruits, and that they are pollinated by the wind. They have a shoot system. The leaves have adapted to the needle-like shape to conserve water by lowering the surface area.
Conifers have needle like leaves. This is very helpful to them because the needle like leaves have a small surface area. This allows them to retain water easier which in turn allows them to live in hotter, dryer places.
Juvenile Araucaria Sapling, Awl-like leaves
Alaska Yellow Cedar,
Scale-Like Leaves
Poniphyta, Linear Leaves
Pyramidal Eastern White Pine Tree, Needle-Like Leaves
Female Cone
Male Cone
An advantage of having a cone is that it protects the seed, and provides nourishment.
Record Setters
The worlds oldest living tree is currently residing in Sweden. It first took root about 9,550 years ago. Thats the beginning of the first ice age!
The tallest living tree is named hyperion and is somewhere in Northern California. It was measured at 379.3 ft.