Question

1. Observe Ginkgo leaves, which are dimorphic (there are two distinct shapes). One type originates on the long shoots (searcher shoots) and the other originates on short shoots. Explain how they differ in their appearance.

2. Look at the male strobili (cones) of Ginkgo. How does it differ from cycad cones in its persistence and size?

3. Observe Ginko seeds

a. What is interesting about their form?

b. What is the fleshy portion of the ripe seed?

c. Look at the picture of an opened Ginkgo seed. What is the ploidy of the embryo and the food tissue?

Answer 1

1. In short shoot leaves, the internodes are very short while in long shoot leaves,the internodes are longer.

2. Cycad cones are larger in size.

3.(a) The seeds have a shell consisting of soft and fleshy section and a hard section. They appear to be in white in colour. Researches have found that ginkgo seed extracts may be new herbal treatment of acne.

(b) The flesy part of the seed contains butanoic acid and smells like rancid butter.

(c) They are haploid.