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Related Concept Videos

Non-vascular Seedless Plants02:26

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The diverse plant life on Earth—consisting of nearly 400,000 species—can be divided into three broad categories based on biological characteristics: nonvascular, seedless vascular, and seed plants.
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Seed structures are composed of a protective seed coat surrounding a plant embryo, and a food store for the developing embryo. The embryo contains the precursor tissues for leaves, stem, and roots. The endosperm and cotyledons—seed leaves—act as the food reserves for the growing embryo.

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Compound pollen cone in a Paleozoic conifer.

G R Hernandez-Castillo1, G W Rothwell, G Mapes

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9.

American Journal of Botany
|June 19, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Fossil conifer pollen cones from ancient North America reveal a unique compound structure, challenging previous ideas about conifer evolution. This discovery supports a close relationship between Coniferales and Gnetales.

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Area of Science:

  • Paleobotany
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Phylogenetics

Background:

  • Pennsylvanian age fossil deposits provide insights into early plant life.
  • Conifer reproductive structures have diverse evolutionary histories.
  • Phylogenetic relationships among seed plants are debated, with conflicting morphological and molecular data.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe a novel compound pollen cone from a Pennsylvanian conifer.
  • To investigate the evolutionary implications of this fossil for conifer and gnetophyte relationships.
  • To reconcile conflicting data in seed plant systematics.

Main Methods:

  • Detailed morphological analysis of fossil specimens.
  • Comparison with extant and fossil conifer and gnetophyte reproductive structures.
  • Integration of fossil evidence with molecular phylogenetic data.

Main Results:

  • Identification of numerous vegetative and fertile specimens of a primitive walchian conifer.
  • Description of a unique compound pollen cone with helically arranged bracts and axillary fertile dwarf shoots.
  • Pollen identified as Potonieisporites Bhardwaj, with monosaccate structure.

Conclusions:

  • The discovered pollen cone represents a compound shoot system, distinct from simple conifer pollen cones.
  • This fossil provides strong support for a close evolutionary relationship between Coniferales and Gnetales.
  • The findings help bridge the gap between morphological and molecular data in seed plant phylogeny.