A slide of a more advanced ovule shows the developed archegonia each with an egg while a further stage of development is seen in the slide with archegonia and pollen tubes. Complete your examination of the conifers with the slide of a pine embryo. The division Gingkophyta has only one living representative, Gingko biloba . Gingkos are deciduous so you have been provided with a branch as well as several abscised leaves. Notice the morphology of the branch-1 long branch with many short spur shoots.
Gingko leaves are fan-shaped and dichotomously veined.
Leaves, ovules and staminate cones are borne on the spur shoots. Examine the slides of the young ovule and the mature ovule with archegonium and egg. Also available are slides of the staminate cones showing microsporangia and slides of Gingko pollen. Cycadophyta is represented by the specimens, Macrozamia, Zamia and Podocarpus . Despite its palm-like appearance, Macrozamia produces large cones between the leaf bases.