Nov., 1909.] 
The Gymnosperms of Ohio. 
9 
some time to come. The two rare species, Botrychium simplex 
and Botrychium neglectum, were past their prime. They prob- 
ably begin to ripen their spores about the loth of June. Time 
prevented making a thorough study of the surroundings and 
there may be other surprises in the future for the careful observer. 
THE GYMNOSPERMS OF OHIO. 
John H. Schaffner. 
Ohio lies south of the great northern conifer belt of North 
America and since there are no mountains in the state, the 
Gymnosperms do not constitute an important part of the flora. 
There are but 11 speeies, one of which is probably accidental 
and has been reported from but one county. The only species 
of general distribution is the Red Juniper, but species of Pinus, 
Picea, Abies, and other genera are quite commonly cultivated 
in all parts of the state. 
Subkingdom, GYMNOSPERMAE. Gymnosperms. 500 
living species. 
Plants in which the sporophytes are woodv perennials with 
open carpels (megasporophylls) without a stigma, and hence 
with naked ovules and seeds, the pollen (male gametophyte) 
falling directly on the micropyle of the ovule (megasporangium) ; 
flowers monosporangiate, usually developing as cones but some- 
times very simple; female gametophyte with numerous cells 
but without polar cells and thus without true endosperm as in 
the Angiosperms; male cells usuallv two, either nonmotile sperms 
or developed as spirally coiled multieiliate spermatozoids. 
KEY TO THE NATIVE AND CULTIVATED GENERA. 
1. Foliage leaves needle-shaped, narrowly linear, subulate, or scale-like; 
conifers, or in one case a dicotyl with delicate twigs and minute 
leaves 2 
1 . Foliage leaves fan-shaped with dichotomous venation, a number on 
thick, wart-like, persistent dwarf branches Ginkgo. 
2. Without dwarf branches 4 
2. With typical dwarf branches, persistent for more than 1 year 3 
2. With feather-like dwarf branches, deciduous each year, the linear 
leaves spreading into 2 ranks Taxodium 
2. With delicate spray-like twigs deciduous each year; leaves scale- 
like, minute; a dicotyl Tamarix. 
3. Dwarf branches small, self-pruned, with 2-5 foliage leaves. . Pinus. 
3. Dwarf branches thick, wart-like, persistent, with numerous deciduous 
leaves Larix. 
4. Leaf buds scaly; leaves scattered 5 
4. Leaf buds not scaly, naked ; leaves opposite or whorled 7 
5. Leaf scar on a sterigma, the twigs covered with scales representing 
the leaf bases 6 
5. Leaf scar on the bark; twigs without scales; leaves flat Abies. 
6. Leaves flat, those on the upper side of the twig much shorter than 
the lateral ones; trees Tsuga. 
