THE SPERMArOPHYTA 



351 



among the most conspicuous of plants and pi-oduced some 

 complex flower-like bisexual reproductive organs. 



Closely related to the cycads is the Japanese maidon-haii- 

 tree, Ginkgo, usually placed in a separate order by itself. It 



Fig. 220. — Staminate cone of Cycas revoluta. (Photo by G. S. Torny). 



resembles the cycads in the possession of a pollen-chamber and 

 of motile sperms, but differs in its tree-like habit of growth and in 

 the absence of typical cones. 



2. Coniferales or Conifers. — These are familiar to us from tlunr 

 wide distribution in temperate zones and from the fact that they 

 include many of our most important forest trees. The vegetative 

 body diff(M-s radically from that of the cycads for it is usually 

 a tree, with a straight trunk and spreading lateral branches 

 which give a spire-like shape to the whole (Fig. 8). The leaves 

 are typically small, evergreen scales or needles. The bulk of t he 



