Page 38 - CatalogNEP-LS

Bot.422 Gymnosperms 3+1

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

The primary objective of this course is:
 Involve detailed study about the vegetative and reproductive morphology of various
gymnosperms specimens and their economic importance.
 Understanding of systematic position along with evolutionary aspects

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

This course will enable the students to understand:
 Students would be able to undertake project work about most of the aspects covered
concerning gymnosperms specimens, their distribution and economic importance.
 Students will be confident in identifying the immense diversity and cultural conditions of
these species.
 They would be able to identify vast diversity amongst the different plant species among
gymnosperms.

THEORY (45 Hours)

UNIT-I: (15 Hours)
Current trends in the classification of Gymnosperms. General characteristic features of
Gymnosperms and their affinities with pteridophytes and angiosperms. Distribution of
Gymnosperms with special reference to Indian members and emphasis on their distribution in the
Himalayas.

UNIT-II: (15 Hours)
Vegetative morphology and reproductive organs only (excluding developmental stages) of Indian
representatives of: Living Coniferopsida: Pinaceae, Taxodiaceae, Cupressaceae, Podocarpaceae,
Cephalotaxaceae, Araucariaceae. Range and form of structure in the leaves of Coniferales.
UNIT-III: (10 Hours)

Vegetative morphology and reproductive organs only (excluding developmental stages) of Indian
representatives of: (a) Gnetopsida: Ephedraceae, Gnetaceae, and Welwitschiaceae. (b)
Ginkgopsida:Ginkgoaceae.

UNIT-IV: (5 Hours)
Economic importance of Gymnosperms. Cytological studies in Gymnosperms. Comparative of
analysis of various gymnosperm taxa on the basis of their distribution, morphology and
reproductive structures

PRACTICAL(30 Hours)

Wood Anatomy in Cedrus, Ginkgo, Ephedra and Gnetum
1. Leaf Anatomy in Cedrus, Abies, Picea, Podocarpus Cryptomeria, Cephalotaxus.
2. Male cones (external morphology) & microsporophylls in Cedrus, Abies, Cephalotaxus,
Podocarpus, Cryptomeria, Cupressus, Thuja and Juniperus.
3. Female cones in Cedrus, Abies, Picea, Taxodium, Auraucaria, Cunninghamia. Seed scale
complex in Cryptomeria, Cupressus, and Thuja.

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