19] 
Gymnosperims 
The essential part of a seed is the embryo, or very young plant, 
which consists of a young stem (caulicle), one or more seed-leaves 
(cotyledons), and a terminal bud (plumule). When the seed be- 
comes ripe the embryo usually ceases to grow. When the seed is 
planted the embryo resumes its growth and becomes established in 
the soil as a new plant. Gymnosperms are so called because their 
seeds are “ 
Cycads (Cycadales) are represented in our collection by all nine 
living genera. Because they are not hardy in the New York 
“naked,” i.e., not enclosed in an ovary. 
region they are housed in the Conservatories, in House No. 11. 
The Old World Cycads are Cycas, Bowenia, Macrozamia, En- 
cephalartos, and Stangeria. The American Cycads are Micro- 
cycas, Zamia, Ceratozamia, and Dioon. 
Ginkgo, or Maidenhair-Tree (Ginkgo biloba), forms a link be- 
tween Cycads and Conifers, the Cycads and Ginkgo being the only 
seed-bearing plants with motile sperms. Ginkgo has never, with 
certainty, been found growing wild; so far as definite evidence 
goes, it is a cultivated plant, and has been preserved by being grown 
in temple gardens of China and Japan. It is the only living species 
of the order, Ginkgoales. 
Conifers (Coniferac) are planted south and east of the Lake. 
They include five families, as follows: 
1. In the Yew Family (Taxaceae) we have four species and 
about 23 varieties of Yews; also the Japanese Torreya (Torreya 
nucifera), the “ Plum-Yew” (Cephalotarus drupacea), and its 
variety, C. drupacea var. sinensis. 
2. The Araucaria Family (Araucariaceae) is represented by the 
Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria excelsa) in the Conservatories, 
and by the Monkey Puzzle Tree, A. auraucana (A. imbricata), a 
small specimen of which has survived outdoors (in the sheltered 
nursery) for sixteen years. 
3. In the Pine Family (Pinaceae) we have about twenty species 
of Pine; Cedars, such as Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus Libant), the 
Atlas Cedar (C. aflantica), and the Deodar Cedar (C. deodara) ; 
also larches, hemlocks, spruces, and firs. 
4. In the Bald Cypress Family (Taxodiaceae) we have Bald 
