Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) . Jepson eFlora, https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/ [accessed on ]

Family key to Group 4

Group 4: Woody plants; pollen grains borne in 2–10(15) sacs on each scale or filament-like stalk of pollen cone; seeds borne between scales of seed cone or naked on branches; flowers never formed [Gymnosperms]

1. Specimens with pollen-producing cones only; ovule/seed-producing structures unavailable

2. Leaves 

opposite 

1. Arranged in pairs along an axis - e.g., two leaves per node. 2. Occurring in the same rank, directly above or below, as 'stamens opposite petals'. 3. Located directly across from.

or 

whorled 

Arranged in groups of three or more at nodes or positions along an axis (e.g., three leaves per node).

3. Stems jointed at 

nodes 

Position on a stem from which one or more structures (especially leaves, buds, branches, or flowers) arise.

, the 

internodes 

Segment of an axis (generally a stem) between successive positions (nodes) from which one or more structures (especially leaves, buds, branches, or flowers) arise.

[main sites of photosynthesis] long, ± green; leaves dry, scale-like, often early deciduous, not overlapping; pollen cones with stamen-like structures, the pollen sacs borne on stout, filament-like stalks ..... EPHEDRACEAE (2) {G7,9}

3' Stems not jointed at 

nodes 

Position on a stem from which one or more structures (especially leaves, buds, branches, or flowers) arise.

, the 

internodes 

Segment of an axis (generally a stem) between successive positions (nodes) from which one or more structures (especially leaves, buds, branches, or flowers) arise.

generally very short; leaves green, scale-, awl-, or needle-like, persistent, crowded, generally closely overlapping; pollen cones with 

sessile 

Without a petiole, peduncle, pedicel, or other kind of stalk.

pollen sacs ..... CUPRESSACEAE (3) {G7}

2' Leaves 

alternate 

1. Arranged singly, often spirally, along an axis - e.g., one leaf per node. 2. Occurring in different ranks, appearing to be between, not directly above or below, as 'stamens alternate petals'.

4. Pollen cones in 

leaf 

Organ arising from a stem, generally composed of a stalk (petiole) and a flat, expanded, green, photosynthetic area (blade); distinguished from a leaflet by the presence in its axil of a bud, branch, thorn, or flower; sometimes with lateral, basal appendages (stipules); either simple (toothed, lobed, or dissected but not divided into leaflets) or compound (divided into leaflets).

 axils on 1-year old twigs; pollen sacs in groups of 4–16 on stout, filament-like stalks ..... TAXACEAE (2) {G7}

4' Pollen cones terminal or in axils of newly formed leaves of current season; pollen sacs 2–6, 

sessile 

Without a petiole, peduncle, pedicel, or other kind of stalk.

on abaxial faces of cone scales

5. Leaves needle-like; pollen sacs 2 per cone 

scale 

1. Wide, appressed, membranous, epidermal outgrowth (e.g., Cheilanthes covillei) 2. Structure partially or entirely covering an over-wintering bud (bud scale) (e.g., Salix goodingii bud). 3. In gymnosperms, a woody, seed-bearing structure attached to the cone axis (cone scale) (e.g., Abies magnifica). 4. In Asteraceae, a flat, membranous pappus element (e.g., Hymenoxys hoopesii). Leaves or bracts may be scale-like in one or more of the preceding ways.

..... PINACEAE (2) {G7}

5' Leaves needle-, awl-, or scale-like; pollen sacs 2–6 per cone 

scale 

1. Wide, appressed, membranous, epidermal outgrowth (e.g., Cheilanthes covillei) 2. Structure partially or entirely covering an over-wintering bud (bud scale) (e.g., Salix goodingii bud). 3. In gymnosperms, a woody, seed-bearing structure attached to the cone axis (cone scale) (e.g., Abies magnifica). 4. In Asteraceae, a flat, membranous pappus element (e.g., Hymenoxys hoopesii). Leaves or bracts may be scale-like in one or more of the preceding ways.

..... CUPRESSACEAE (3) {G7}

1' Specimens with ovule/seed-producing structures; pollen-producing cones present or 0

6. Ovules/seeds borne in a cone that becomes ± woody at maturity

7. Cone bracts present, individually subtending and ± free from cone scales, 

exserted 

Protruding out of surrounding structure(s) (e.g., stamens exserted from corolla).

beyond cone scales or ± < scales and then ± hidden by them; leaves needle-like; ovules/seeds 2 per cone 

scale 

1. Wide, appressed, membranous, epidermal outgrowth (e.g., Cheilanthes covillei) 2. Structure partially or entirely covering an over-wintering bud (bud scale) (e.g., Salix goodingii bud). 3. In gymnosperms, a woody, seed-bearing structure attached to the cone axis (cone scale) (e.g., Abies magnifica). 4. In Asteraceae, a flat, membranous pappus element (e.g., Hymenoxys hoopesii). Leaves or bracts may be scale-like in one or more of the preceding ways.

; seeds distally 1-winged or wingless ..... PINACEAE (2) {G7}

7' Cone bracts not evident, ± wholly fused to cone scales; leaves scale-like, awl-like, or needle-like; ovules/seeds 1–many per cone 

scale 

1. Wide, appressed, membranous, epidermal outgrowth (e.g., Cheilanthes covillei) 2. Structure partially or entirely covering an over-wintering bud (bud scale) (e.g., Salix goodingii bud). 3. In gymnosperms, a woody, seed-bearing structure attached to the cone axis (cone scale) (e.g., Abies magnifica). 4. In Asteraceae, a flat, membranous pappus element (e.g., Hymenoxys hoopesii). Leaves or bracts may be scale-like in one or more of the preceding ways.

; seeds laterally 2-winged (wing sometimes very narrow) or distally 1-winged in Calocedrus ..... CUPRESSACEAE (3) {G7}

6' Ovules/seeds exposed on branches or surrounded by a ± perianth-like cluster of membranous scales, or enclosed in a cone that becomes fleshy and berry-like at maturity

8. Stems jointed at 

nodes 

Position on a stem from which one or more structures (especially leaves, buds, branches, or flowers) arise.

, the 

internodes 

Segment of an axis (generally a stem) between successive positions (nodes) from which one or more structures (especially leaves, buds, branches, or flowers) arise.

[main sites of photosynthesis] long, green; leaves dry, scale-like, often early deciduous, not overlapping; ovules/seed(s) surrounded by a ± perianth-like cluster of membranous scales; pollen cones with stamen-like structures, the pollen sacs borne on stout, filament-like stalks ..... EPHEDRACEAE (2) {G7,9}

8' Stems not jointed at 

nodes 

Position on a stem from which one or more structures (especially leaves, buds, branches, or flowers) arise.

, the 

internodes 

Segment of an axis (generally a stem) between successive positions (nodes) from which one or more structures (especially leaves, buds, branches, or flowers) arise.

generally very short; leaves green, scale-like, awl-like, or needle-like, persistent, crowded, sometimes overlapping; ovules/seeds enclosed in fleshy cones or exposed on branches and seeds individually subtended or surrounded by fleshy aril; pollen cones with 

sessile 

Without a petiole, peduncle, pedicel, or other kind of stalk.

or stalked pollen sacs

9. Leaves 

opposite 

1. Arranged in pairs along an axis - e.g., two leaves per node. 2. Occurring in the same rank, directly above or below, as 'stamens opposite petals'. 3. Located directly across from.

or 

whorled 

Arranged in groups of three or more at nodes or positions along an axis (e.g., three leaves per node).

, 1–20+ mm, scale-, awl-, or needle-like; seeds 1–3, enclosed in a fleshy, berry-like cone; pollen sacs 2–6, 

sessile 

Without a petiole, peduncle, pedicel, or other kind of stalk.

on abaxial faces of cone scales ..... CUPRESSACEAE (Juniperus)

9' Leaves 

alternate 

1. Arranged singly, often spirally, along an axis - e.g., one leaf per node. 2. Occurring in different ranks, appearing to be between, not directly above or below, as 'stamens alternate petals'.

, 12–70 mm, needle-like; seed 1, ± enclosed by a fleshy, generally colored aril; pollen cones with stamen-like structures, pollen sacs in groups of 4–16 on stout filament-like stalks ..... TAXACEAE (2) {G7}