The importance of gymnosperms in human life, in nature

Plants related to gymnosperms are the basis of the flora of individual regions of the Earth. They are the lungs of our planet, supplying huge volumes of oxygen and reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide. The nutritional value of gymnosperms lies in the supply of food to birds and rodents.

General characteristics of seminal

The first plants, multiplying by seeds, appeared in the middle of the Devonian period. However, their superiority over spore appeared at a later time. Scientists associate this event with climatic changes: a decrease in temperature and precipitation in the Mesozoic era. The variety and importance of gymnosperms and flowering plants have significant differences. Both these sections of the higher flora are similar to the presence of roots, shoots and generative organs.

Plants reproducing with seeds have some superiority over spore. The main distinguishing features:

• The spore consists of a single cell, and the seed consists of a multitude.
• Pollination is the process of transfer of pollen grains to seed germs. Sometimes wind, insects or animals are required for this purpose.
• The seed consists of an embryo, the necessary amount of nutrients and a shell that protects from external influences.
• There is no need for water for fertilization.

General characteristics of gymnosperms

The known importance of gymnosperms in nature is due to their structure. There are about 700 modern species of these plants. Their seed is on top of the scales openly. All their protection is skin. It was possible to reduce evaporation from the surface with the help of emerging stomata.

Conifers have a height of 40 to 70 m, but there are species reaching up to 100 m, they can include a mammoth tree. The increase in the thickness of the trunks is provided by cambium cells, which eventually die off. This gives reliable protection against strong winds. The bark of coniferous trees has a multitude of tubules with resin, which flows through the damaged areas, healing them. Another important role of gymnosperms in nature is the accumulation of carbon, which then becomes sediment.

Reproduction of gymnosperms

To better understand the importance of gymnosperms, it is worthwhile to consider their multiplication. We will do this on the example of pine, the seeds on which appear when the tree reaches the age of 12 to 15 years. Cones are the organs in which the seed germs and pollen grains ripen. They were formed as a result of the modification of shoots, which became shorter, and the leaves turned into scales.

Pine refers to monoecious plants that possess the organs of reproduction of both sexes. Female cones have a reddish hue and tightly fitting scales. They grow in the region of the tip of the shoot. Each flake has 2 seed rudiments. Male cones are formed near the base of elongated shoots. Their color is yellowish gray. Scales have 2 anthers, they form pollen. Its grains have 2 shells, between which there are cavities filled with air. This feature allows the pollen to move with the wind away from the place of growth.

Studying the importance of gymnosperms, you can not miss the process of their pollination:

• In spring, pollen with wind falls on the ovules.
• The scales of the cone begin to close, completely covering the organ.
• A pollen tube sprouts from the fallen pollen grains.
• Fertilization will happen only in a year, when inside the seed buds there will be eggs and endosperm (tissue with a supply of nutrients).
• A pollen tube is suitable for the ovule, along which two sperm move (without flagella). One of them reaches the goal and fertilization takes place, and the second perishes.
• A seed is formed from the seed rudiment.

Seeds

Seeds consist of peel (formed from the shell of the rudiment), endosperm and embryo. They mature for 3 years after cones grow. The same tree contains them in different stages of development. Pine seed resembles a flower, but it has an endosperm that is formed from a sprout. It is quite resistant to the effects of severe external conditions. Can sprout on rocky ledges and withstand severe frosts. These and many other details determine the importance of gymnosperms.

Ecology of gymnosperms

What is the significance of gymnosperms, you can imagine, how old they are. In the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras, they dominated the representatives of the flora. They were evergreen trees. Species distributed in the tropical belt have large dissected leaves (like palm trees). The green organs of plants of northern latitudes are small (like needles or scales). This is due to the low level of humidity.

What is the biological significance of the fact that gymnosperms form whole forests? Taiga of temperate latitudes is a native home for many populations of living organisms. This especially applies to birds and mammals (carnivorous, omnivorous and herbivorous). Forests provide them with food, shelter, shelter, conditions for breeding and raising young.

The minerals of Siberia are ancient gymnosperms of enormous size. Now the areas of coniferous forests are rapidly declining for various reasons: felling, fires, clearing places for roads, cities and plants. Destructive for the taiga activities related to flooding areas, draining marshes and mining.

The most important role of gymnosperms is the enrichment of air with oxygen and purification of it of carbon dioxide. The person is very careless about this function, because the increased content of harmful impurities and soot in the atmosphere leads to clogging of stomata and accumulation of substances in the leaf blade. Khvoinki do not fall every year, so their life time is reduced because of this for several years. The disappearance of forests is one of the biggest problems of the planet.

The importance of gymnosperms in human life

The economic use of coniferous trees began a long time ago. In the modern world it is difficult to imagine without them many branches of production and life. The use and importance of gymnosperms in different spheres of life:

• Nutritional. From the core part of the cycad produce the corresponding groats. Seeds of Siberian cedar are used for food .
• Building. Wood is an excellent material for decoration and production of structures.
• Fuel. Dry wood is used for heating individual houses.
• Medicine. Essential oils, pine buds are the basis for medicines.
• Chemical. From gymnosperms produce turpentine, pitch, var, essential oils.
• Aesthetic. Among the coniferous trees there are decorative species. The importance of gymnosperms in creating forest belts along fields and roads is very important.

Next, we will examine in more detail the importance of gymnosperms in human life. The message about each gender will be brief.

Pine and spruce

Pine is a typical representative of the flora of temperate climate and subtropical mountains. It grows fast and loves light. Forms burs on sandy soils or mixed forests. Life expectancy up to 400 years. Pine wood is used in the manufacture of aircraft, railroad cars, water transport, furniture. Rosin, turpentine and ship tar are produced from resin. Fresh shoots are raw materials for the production of medicines because of the high content of vitamin C. Medicine uses pollen grains as an alternative to the spores of the placenta. Pine is a typical representative of conifers, therefore the importance of gymnosperms is often considered on its example.

Spruce grows in Europe, Western Siberia in the Carpathians. Life expectancy is up to 300 years. There are clean spruce forests with an admixture of other coniferous and deciduous species. Wood is a wonderful building material, fuel. It produces pulp - raw materials for the production of paper. The bark is rich in tannins. They make turpentine, rosin, var, tar.

Fir and larch

The area of the fir is quite wide. This tree is well tolerated by the shadow and cold. Branches growing near the ground easily give roots. You can meet on a flat and mountainous terrain. Wood - an excellent material for construction, crafts, paper and cardboard. Essential oil is produced from needles. Camphor and balsams are made from young shoots. There are decorative types used in landscape design.

Larch is a typical plant of Eurasia and the North American continent. By winter, pine needles fall off, which does not occur in other gymnosperms. It is resistant to frost, but loves sunlight. Has a wood of a reddish shade, which is resistant to dampness. It makes sleepers, supports in mines, paper products. It found application in the production of ships.

Cedar and yew

Cedar grows in the area of the Mediterranean Sea, the Western Himalayas, Siberia. It has a wide crown and a large height. Its sturdy wood is used to create ships.

Tis is a widespread species. There is no yew wood alone. It is typical for mountain and warm places. Only this representative of conifers does not have tar. The color of the wood is yellow-red. Widely used as raw materials for turning, carpentry and construction work. It produces furniture, houses. The value of wood is in its resistance to putrefactive processes.

Cypress and Juniper

Cypress grows in the moderately warm climate of Eurasia and North America. In the Crimea and the Caucasus it is found in the gardens. The crown has the shape of a pyramid or sprawling. Soft and easy ornamental material. Wood is also made furniture.

Juniper is growing in all climatic zones of the northern hemisphere. In its pure form it forms a light forest. It is represented by low trees and bushes. Widespread material for crafts and construction. Sanibol is a poisonous essential oil contained in shoots. It is used for medical purposes.