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Today´s gymnosperms are a small relict group of seed plants with only 800-900 extant species with conifers representing the largest group. Despite the low species number, gymnosperm identification is often rather difficult even at genus-level. This book focuses on the identification of the genera of conifers and can be used worldwide. The early chapters introduce the systematics and morphology of the gymnosperms, especially the conifers, and give a broad overview of the range of species and their structural diversity. Dichotomous keys, concise descriptions and helpful, practical identification tips, allow the reader to readily identify all coniferous genera worldwide. Numerous drawings and color photos assist this process and allow identifications to be confirmed. To assist rapid identification, especially in the field, the only diagnostic features included are those easily seen with the naked eye or magnification glass; micromorphological and anatomical features needing a microscope are deliberately excluded. The book is designed both for specialists but also for everyone who wants to learn more about this fascinating group of primitive seed plants.

KlappentextThis monograph deals with the leaf characters of the genus Abies (Pinaceae) and represents one of the most comprehensive studies, which includes nearly all species worldwide, their subspecies and varieties and also several of the natural and artificial hybrids as well. All morpho-anatomical features are presented in detailed diagnostic descriptions and in over 90 full-page colour figures, including macro- and microscopic details of the entire foliar shoots and single needle leaves, scanning electron microscopic images of the stomata and anatomical sections. In addition to the precise documentation of all leaf characters, morpho-anatomical comparisons are drawn, useful to distinguish between quite similar species. Thus, this book is of interest for botanists, foresters, horticulturists and everyone who is interested in this fascinating group of conifers.

This well-illustrated monograph explores the relationship between deciduousness (the seasonal shedding of leaves) and long-shoot/short-shoot differentiation in gymnosperm tree species. While most gymnosperms are evergreen, deciduousness is typically viewed as a derived trait. Comparative studies of angiosperms show a strong correlation between vegetative long-shoot/short-shoot differentiation and deciduousness. Specifically, the total leaf area of a short shoot matches that of a single long-shoot leaf lamina, indicating a replacement process in subsequent seasons. However, this correlation is only observed in Ginkgo among the studied gymnosperms, suggesting a distinct evolutionary path for long-shoot/short-shoot differentiation in gymnosperms compared to angiosperms. The research reveals that some evergreen gymnosperms may have evolved from deciduous ancestors, while others maintain a primitive deciduous state. The monograph is divided into two parts: the first investigates various gymnospermous and angiospermous species morphologically, anatomically, and physiologically, while the second maps these findings onto paleobotanical and paleogeographic data to assess the hypothesis that deciduousness was historically more prevalent among gymnosperms than current diversity indicates. This work will appeal to botanists and researchers studying both angiospermous and gymnospermous trees.