May 2014 –July 2014, Vol. 4, No. 3; 2205-2215.
E- ISSN: 2249 –1929
Journal of Chemical, Biological and Physical Sciences
An International Peer Review E-3 Journal of Sciences
Available online atwww.jcbsc.org
Section B: Biological Sciences
CODEN (USA): JCBPAT
Research Article
Gymnosperms: The Eye-Catchers in the Botanic Garden of
Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Tamil Nadu, India
1
Jaya Vijayan, 1Ramachandran, V.S. and 2Binu Thomas*
1
Department of Botany, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore – 641
46, Tamil Nadu, India
2
PG Department of Botany, Deva Matha College, Kuravilangad, Kottayam - 686 633,
Kerala, India.
Received: 30 May 2014; Revised: 13June 2014; Accepted: 18 June 2014.
Abstract: The present study on gymnosperm diversity in Government Botanic garden,
Udhagamandalam (Ooty) has resulted in the documentation of 37 species of
gymnosperms belonging to 19 genera and 9 families. This also highlights the role of
botanic gardens for conserving such ecologically, economically and evolutionary
important group of plants like gymnosperms for future generation.
Key Words: Gymnosperms, Botanic Garden, Ooty, Tamil Nadu.
INTRODUCTION
Gymnosperms are the intermediates of the pteridophytes and the angiosperms. The word
Gymnosperms is derived from the Greek word which means “naked seeds”. The gymnosperms have their
ovules freely exposed before and after fertilization and not enclosed by any ovary wall. They are
preferred by the gardeners and the plant lovers due to their gregarious looks, attractive foliage, heavy
trunks and typical reproductive apparatus and are the chief ornamental plants. More over economically
these groups of plants are highly important, particularly in forestry and horticulture, yielding timber,
resins, essential oils, drugs and edible nuts.1-4
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Gymnosperms…
Jaya Vijayan et al .
Most of the living gymnosperms include middle-sized or tall trees and shrubs. They do not reproduce
vegetatively by means of cuttings, layering or budding etc. But vegetatively propagating structures like
bulbils are known in some groups of Cycads. The leaves are mostly evergreen and may possess resin
canals. The secondary wood in the gymnosperms are of two types, manoxylic and pycnoxylic. More over
gymnosperms are heterosporous. It produces both male and female cones, each have respective spores
such as microspores in microsporangium and megaspores in megasporangium. Each spore will germinate
to develop respective gametophytes5.
The gymnosperms are the most ancient cone bearing seed plants which are believed to be arisen during
the late Paleozoic era, but flourished well during the Mesozoic era. Most of them perished in due course
of time and are now represented by the major orders like Cycadales, Ginkgoales, Coniferales, Taxales and
Gnetales6.The living gymnosperms are one of the great antiquities and include about 700-800 species
belonging to 70-75 genera. Among gymnosperms, conifers dominate the lot with about 550-600 species
belonging to its 60 genera and tend to form most of the dominant forests7.Some gymnosperms like
Cycads have a special type of roots called coralloid roots which are negatively geotropic and supports
symbiotic cyanobacteria that can fix atmospheric nitrogen8.Conifer forests are typical of Himalayas and
provides a cool and soothing environment for recreation and health9.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study area: The Government Botanic garden, Udhagamandalam (Ooty) was established in 1847. It is lies
on the lower slopes of Doddabetta peak at 11°24'08.7'' N and 76°44'12.2'' E. It is maintained by the Tamil
Nadu Horticulture Department. It ascends the slopes of the hill at an elevation of 2250–2500 meter above
MSL. The garden enjoys a temperate climate, with an average rainfall of 140 cm, the most of which is
received during South-West monsoon. The maximum and minimum temperatures are 28 °C and 0 °C
respectively10 (Fig. 1).
Data collection: A field survey has been carried out during 2009 -2013, in different seasons to
document plant resources which are conserved in the Govt. botanic garden Ooty. During survey,
the plant specimens and their photographs were taken to record different morphological
characters. The correct nomenclature of such plants was analyzed with the help of available
floras and literature. The collected plant specimens were processed for herbarium preservation
following the standard herbarium technique11and the voucher specimens were kept in the
herbarium of Department of Botany, Bharathiar University for future reference.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The present study on the gymnosperm diversity in Government Botanic garden, Udhagamandalam (Ooty)
has resulted in the documentation 37 species of gymnosperm belonging to 19 genera and 9 families
(Table-1). The analysis of dominant families showed that, Cupressaceae is the first dominant family with
16 species followed by Pinaceae with 7 species, Taxodiaceae with 4 species, Cycadaceae with 2 species
and other families possess 1 species each. While the analysis of dominant genera reveals that, Cupressus
is the first one with 8 species followed by Pinus (6 species), Araucaria and Juniperus (3 species), Cycas
and Thuja (2 species). All other genus possesses single species each. Most of these species are trees and
they possess ornamental potentiality mainly because of its good looking habit with attractive foliage.
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Jaya Vijayan et al .
Moreover the wood of most conifers are highly durable and it is used for various purposes. Similarly the
resins secreted by the gymnosperm are widely used for various applications. In many points of view the
plant group like gymnosperms is very valuable.
Fig.1: Satellite Map of Govt. Botanic Garden, Udhagamandalam (Ooty)
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Table-1: List of Gymnosperm species which are occurring in Govt. Botanic Garden,
Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Tamil Nadu, India.
SI
Botanical Name
No.
Family
Name
Agathis robusta (C.
1.
Common
Moore ex F.
Queens
Hab
it
Araucariaceae
Tree
Araucariaceae
Tree
Hoop pine
Araucariaceae
Tree
Norfolk
Araucariaceae
Tree
Cupressaceae
Tree
land Pine
Muell.) F.M. Bailey
Araucaria bidwilli
2.
Hook.
Araucaria
3.
Pine
cunninghamii Sweet.
Araucaria
4.
Bunya
heterophylla (Salisb.)
Island pine
Franco
Callitris rhomboidea
5.
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R. Br. ex Rich.
Cypress
pine
J. Chem. Bio. Phy. Sci. Sec. B, May 2014 – July 2014; Vol.4, No.3; 2205-2215
Image
Gymnosperms…
6.
7.
Jaya Vijayan et al .
Cedrus deodara
Himalayan
(D.Don) G. Don
Cedar
Chamaecyparis lawso
Lawson's
niana (A.
Cypress
Pinaceae
Tree
Cupressaceae
Tree
Taxodiaceae
Tree
Murray) Parl.
8.
9.
Cryptomeria japonica
Japanese
(Thunb. ex L. f) D. Don.
Cedar
Cunninghamia lanceol
China fir
Taxodiaceae
Tree
Arizona
Cupressaceae
Tree
Cupressaceae
Tree
ata (Lamb.) Hook.
Cupressus
10.
arizonica
Greene
Cupressus benthamii
11.
2209
Endl.
Cypress
Bentham's
Cypress
J. Chem. Bio. Phy. Sci. Sec. B, May 2014 – July 2014; Vol.4, No.3; 2205-2215.
Gymnosperms…
Cupressus
12.
14.
15.
16.
funebris
Mourning
Cupressaceae
Tree
Cupressaceae
Tree
Cupressaceae
Tree
Cupressaceae
Tree
Cupressaceae
Tree
Cupressaceae
Tree
Cypress
Endl.
Cupressus
13.
Jaya Vijayan et al .
goveniana
Gowen
Gordon
Cypress
Cupressus
Mexican
lusitanica Mill.
Cypress
Cupressus macrocarpa
Monetary
Hartw.
Cypress
Cupressus
Mediterran
sempervirens L.
ean
Cypress
Cupressus torulosa D. Himalayan
17.
2210
Don
Cypress
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Gymnosperms…
Jaya Vijayan et al .
Cycas circinalis L.
Sago palm
Cycadaceae
Tree
Cycas revoluta Thunb.
Sago palm
Cycadaceae
Tree
Ginkgo
Ginkgoaceae
Tree
Chinese
Cupressaceae
Tree
Cupressaceae
Shr
18.
19.
Ginkgo biloba L.
20.
Juniperus chinensis L.
Juniper
21.
Juniperus recurva
22.
23.
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Drooping
Buch.- Ham. ex D.Don
Juniper
Juniperus virginiana L.
Pencil
ub
Cupressaceae
Tree
Cedar
J. Chem. Bio. Phy. Sci. Sec. B, May 2014 – July 2014; Vol.4, No.3; 2205-2215.
Gymnosperms…
Jaya Vijayan et al .
Pinus canariensis C.
24.
Pinaceae
Tree
Pinaceae
Tree
Khasi Pine
Pinaceae
Tree
Pinus patula Schl. &
Mexican
Pinaceae
Tree
Cham.
Weeping
Pinaceae
Tree
Pinaceae
Tree
Sm. ex DC.
IslandPine
Pinus caribaea More.
Carribean
Pine
25.
Pinus kesiya Royle ex
26.
27.
Canary
Gordon
Pine
Pinus roxburghii Sarg.
Long
leaved
28.
Indian
Pine
Pinus
29.
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Douglas
sabiniana
Digger
Pine
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Gymnosperms…
30.
Jaya Vijayan et al .
Podocarpus elongatus
African
Podocarpacea
(Aiton) L. Her. ex Pers.
yellow
e
Tree
wood
31.
Sequoia sempervirens
California
(Lamb.) Endl.
Red wood
Taxodium distichum
32.
(L) Rich.
Cypress
Thuja orientalis L.
Oriental
33.
34.
Taxodiaceae
Tree
Cupressaceae
Shr
Japanese
ub
Cupressaceae
Tree
Taxaceae
Tree
Thuja
Taxus baccata L.
2213
Tree
Thuja
Thuja standishii Carr.
35.
Bald
Taxodiaceae
Common
Yew
J. Chem. Bio. Phy. Sci. Sec. B, May 2014 – July 2014; Vol.4, No.3; 2205-2215.
Gymnosperms…
36.
37.
Jaya Vijayan et al .
Widdringtonia whytei
Mulanje
Rendle
Cypress
Zamia integrifolia A.
Coontie
Gray ex A. DC.
Cupressaceae
Tree
Zamiaceae
Sub
shru
b
CONCLUSION
Vegetation is the most precious gift by nature and it has meeting all kinds of essential
requirements of the humans in the form of food, fodder, fuel, medicine, timber, resins, and oil, etc. The
present study provides comprehensive information on gymnosperm diversity in the Government Botanic
garden, Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Tamil Nadu. This also helps students and researchers those who are
working in the field of plant sciences to know more about this precious group of plants. In order to break
the monotony and also to enrich the beauty of a garden it should be planted with gymnosperms. This
paper also highlights the role of botanic gardens for conserving such ecologically, economically and
evolutionary important group of plants like gymnosperms for future generation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are deeply grateful to the Sri. Aldurai (Joint Director), Dr. S. Ramsunder (Asst. Director) and
Mr. Chandran (Garden supervisor) of Govt. Botanic Garden, Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Tamil Nadu for
their necessary help during the study. We are also thankful to Dr. S. Manian, Professor and Head,
Department of Botany, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore for providing great support to carry out this
research work.
REFERENCES
1. C.J. Chamberlain. Gymonsperm Structure and Evolution. Chicago.1935.
2. P.D. Dogra. Gymnosperm of India II. Chilgosa Pine (Pinus gerardiana Wall.) Bulletin of
National Botanical Garden Lucknow.1964, 12: 15-18.
3. S.C. Dutta. An Introduction to Gymnosperm. Asia Publication House, India.1973.
4. K.C. Sahni.Gymnosperm in Encyclopedia of India national history, In: R.E. Hawkins (Ed.),
Oxford University press, Delhi,1986, 129-134.
5. P.C. Vasishta. Gymnosperms. S. Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi, 1976, 3-6.
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6. S.K. Uniyaland A. Awasthi, Gymnosperms of Uttar Pradesh; An enumeration. Indian Journal of
Forestry. 2000, 23(2): 228-231.
7. L.M. Tewari, J.S. Jalal, S. Kumar, P.S. Pangteyand R. Kumar. Wild and Exotic Gymnosperms of
Uttarakhand, Central Himalaya, India. Ecology Journal of Biological Sciences 2010,4(1): 32-36.
8. W.B. Storey. Somatic Reduction in Cycads. Journal of Sciences 1968, 159: 648-650.
9. A.R. Darand G.H. Dar. Taxonomic appraisal of conifers of Kashmir Himalaya. Pakistan Journal
of Biological Sciences.2006, 9:859-867.
10. Jaya Vijayan, V.S. Ramachandran and Binu Thomas. The role of Botanic Gardens in the
Conservation of Wild and Native Flora. Research in Plant Biology.2014,4(1): 20-25.
11. S.K. Jain and R.R. Rao Handbook of Field and Herbarium Methods. Today and Tomorrow
Printers & Publishers, New Delhi. 1977.
Corresponding author: Binu Thomas
PG Department of Botany, Deva Matha College, Kuravilangad, Kottayam - 686 633, Kerala,
India.
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