Coniferophyta6thPeriod

**By: N**aomi **O**ceguera, **J**amie **N**ava, and **M**ariana **E**scobar
 * Coniferophyta**

**T** he phylum Coniferophyta concludes of a good portion of characteristics. Some of the characteristics that this phylum is made up of are: needle-like or scale-like leaves, pollen walls with one suture and large saccus, ovules with one integument of the three tissue layers, and a semi-twisted structure in the leaves. Some of the common classes underneath this phylum include the Pinopsida, Taxopsida, and Cordaitopsoda. These classes tend to all gather up underneath the phylum Coniferophyta.

**A** variety of species can make up a group of similar traits just like in the phylum Coniferophyta. This phylum is a group of similar plants. Some alike species would include Spruce, Pines, Fir and Juniper. The Spruce tree is one of the loftiest of European trees, they can reach a height of 125 to about 150 feet maybe even further up to 180 feet. The diameter of the stem can also be relatively large, some can reach from two to six feet wide in diameter. Considering that the trunk is round the branches on the Spruce tree usually round the figure of the tree giving the tree a whorl-like look with a single branch shot straight up on top. As for the leaves on this tree they are generally less then about an inch long, they tend to be sharp pointed (needle like), and a dark clear green. The Spruce tree actually produces cones which are usually at the end of the upper branches. A Pine tree is very common in most places. The Pine tree, also like the Spruce tree is in a whorl-like figure. The colors in both trees are around the same shade as well, dark clear shade of green. Now as for the Fir tree it grows very rapidly. It can grow from 120 feet to over 140 feet while also having a girth of almost 15 feet. Now for this tree the leaves are also needle like just like the Spruce but the leaves tend to be no bigger then two to three inches long, often they are curved and/or twisted. The thing is though when compiled together they can be about a foot long. Unlike the rest the Juniper can be both a plant or a tree. The Juniper trees can be from 20 to 40 meters tall. This particular plant and tree can be as tall over around 120 feet which isn't as tall as the rest but it does also contain needle-like leaves. This tree like all the others share the greatest similarities in their leaves, leaf colors, structure, height, form, and actions which allows them to all belong in the phylum Coniferophyta.

**T** he phylum Coniferophyta is said to be one of a kind. Their extensive rapid growth, amazing leaves, and stems all add up to it. The roots in this phylum undergo an extensive secondary growth. What this means is that the plants in this phylum tends to grow at a rapid rate. Secondary growth is said to be the result of //Lateral Meristems// which is basically Vascular Cambium and Cork Cambium. A Cambium is a meristematic nature of the two words. They cell division in the two terms is predominately periclinial meaning that it produces radal files of cells which can usually increase the girth of the organ of which they are occurring in. The leaves that these plants contain (needle-like structures) contain a great battery of adaptations. The needle-like leaves can adapt to most extreme weathers and still survive. They are considered to be very tolerant towards many different weather conditions. According to many scientist they are considered to be some the most adaptable and tolerant woody plants in regard to most weather. As for the stem in this phylum at times it may be curved while most of the time they are straight above. The stems to the plants in this phylum tend to two to six feet in diameter. They are attached to a large portion of branches that are full with evergreen colored leaves. The stems in the phylum Coniferophyta have many resin canals. A Resin canal is an inter-cellular tube that is lined with resin-secreting cells which are found inside the wood and leaves. The stem, leaves, and roots are what basically creates this phylum.

 **C** oniferophyta, has a vascular system. This system allows the plant to transport water and products from photosynthesis throughout the plant. If a plant has a vascular system it means it has Xylem and Phloem. Xylem itself is like a wooden tube and is made of dead cells. The xylem transports water from the roots of the plant to the rest of it using sap. Xylem Sap is a fluid that is made up of mostly water with hormones, minerals and nutrients. Because sap is being transported vertically it needs some way to flow upwards. This is done with surface tension on the water. When two water molecules come together they form a hydrogen bond. A negatively charged oxygen atom from one of the water molecules forms a hydrogen bond with a positively charged oxygen atom from the other. This attraction is one of the main factors for the occurrence of surface tension in water and is what allows the xylem to transport water to the plant from the roots along with transpiration, a process similar to evaporation. The surface tension of water along with transpiration allows water and nutrients in sap from the roots to flow to the rest of the plant.

**P** hloem is living tissue that carries glucose, a sugar, throughout the plant. Most Coniferophyta are trees and the phloem is the innermost layer of bark in them. Like xylem, the phloem uses sap but it’s different in that it also carries sugars. The glucose sugar that is made during photosynthesis is transported in Phloem sap throughout the plant to provide it with energy.

**T** he evolutionary success in this phylum is caused by the gymnosperms. A gymnosperm is a group of seed-bearing plants, conifers are one of them. These type of seeds develop usually on a surface of a scale or leaf-like appendages of the cones from the plants such as the ones inside of the phylum Coniferophyta. The main group of gymnosperms are the classes inside of the Coniferophyta mainly because they are the types of plants that produce cones. The way that these plants develop and pollinate are what makes this phylum evolutionarily successful. Since Coniferophytas can adapt to most weather it has allowed them to live and produce without complications. All of the characteristics and behaviors of these plants allow this phylum to continue becoming evolutionarily successful today. **T** hese plants usually mean a lot to the human culture mainly when it comes to the holidays. The Pine tree is a huge Christmas decoration. Millions of people around the world go off and purchase Pine tree's during the winter season to celebrate holidays. For some people it's an every year tradition. Another aspect that this phylum effects on the human culture is the fact that many people enjoy the smell. Many aromas have been made for candles and all kinds of things that are made out of the Coniferophyta scent. In some ways you can see that this phylum really does effect human culture mainly because of traditions and because of its relaxing scent to some people.

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