Gymnosperms Collection (#4)

Female pine cone, light micrograph
Female pine cone. Light micrograph of a section through a young ovulate female cone from a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) tree, showing ovules (oval, light pink)

Prehistoric forest fire, artwork
Prehistoric forest fire. Artwork of prehistoric invertebrates fleeing towards a pond during a forest fire. The invertebrates include a centipede, a scorpion and numerous cockroaches

Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara) forest. Photographed in Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India

Araucaria columnaris
Aracuaria columunaris tree. Photographed at the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Utah juniper tree (Juniperus osteosperma). Photographed in the Wave area of Paria-Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona, USA

Joint-pine (Ephedra major) blooming in the Sahara Desert, after a wet winter. Photographed in Morocco, in February

Dwarf common juniper (Juniperus communis) branch with berries, on a rock. Photographed on Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park, Washington, USA

Western white pines (Pinus monticola)
Western white pine (Pinus monticola) trees on a mountainside. Photographed near Winnemucca Lake on the Kit Carson Pass, Sierra Nevada, California, USA

Mountain forest of mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) trees under heavy snow. Photographed on Mount Hood, Oregon, USA

Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forest
Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forest. Photographed at Lost Lake, Mount Hood, Oregon, USA

Gall on a yew bud
Artichoke gall on a yew bud (Taxus sp.). The rounded structure on the end of a branch (lower right) is caused by a gall fly (Taxomyia taxi). Photographed in England

Fir forest. Pacific silver fur (Abies amabilis) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Photographed in Cone Peak, Oregon, USA

Crimean pine (Pinus nigra pallasiana) covered in snow. Photographed in the Troodos Mountains, Cyprus, in winter

Crimean pines (Pinus nigra pallasiana) covered in snow. Photographed in the Troodos Mountains, Cyprus, in winter

Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi) tree

Pine needle, light micrograph
Pine needle. Light micrograph of a transverse section through a leaf (needle) of a pine tree (Pinus sp.). The leaves are needle-like so they present a large surface area for photosynthesis but

Young pine tree stem, light micrograph
Young pine tree stem. Light micrograph of a transverse section through a two and a half-year-old stem of a pine tree (Pinus sp.)

Yew tree root, light micrograph
Yew tree root. Light micrograph of a transverse section through a root of a yew tree, (Taxus baccata). Most of the outer cortex (dark blue)

Ginkgo leaf stalk, light micrograph
Ginkgo leaf stalk. Light micrograph of a transverse section through the leaf stalk (petiole) of a ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba)

Pine wood structure, light micrograph
Pine wood structure. Polarised light micrograph of a longitudinal radial section through the stem wood (xylem) of the deal pine tree (Pinus mitis)

Female yew tree flower, light micrograph
Female yew tree flower. Light micrograph of a longitudinal section through a female flower of the yew tree (Taxus baccata)

Cedar tree stem, light micrograph
Cedar tree stem. Light micrograph of a transverse section through a stem of a cedar tree (Thujopsis dolobrata). The four ridges on the outer surface are microphyllous leaves

Japanese sago palm leaf, light micrograph
Japanese sago palm leaf. Light micrograph of a transverse section through the leaf (pinna) of a Japanese sago palm, cycad, (Cycas revoluta)

Yew tree leaf, light micrograph
Yew tree leaf. Light micrograph of a transverse section through the leaf (pinna) of a yew tree, (Taxus baccata). The structure has xerophytic (drought plants) characteristics

Japanese sago palm root, light micrograph
Japanese sago palm root. Light micrograph of a transverse section through a root of a Japanese sago palm, (Cycas revoluta)

Young yew tree stem, light micrograph
Young yew tree stem. Light micrograph of a transverse section through a one-year-old stem of a yew tree (Taxus baccata). The epidermis (outer layer)

Douglas fir cones. Branch of a Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees with new growth and cones. These cones mature over the summer, producing seeds in the autumn if fertilised

Scots pine female flowers (Pinus sylvestris). Photographed in the Cairngorms National Park, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in June

Sitka spruce (Picea sitchenis)
Sitka spruce tree (Picea sitchensis). This tree is the tallest sitka spruce tree in Sweden

Bristlecone pine trees (Pinus longaeva) on a mountainside. These are thought to be the oldest living organisms on Earth, with one tree found to be some 4700 years old

Juniperus communis Golden Showers
Juniper tree (Juniperus communis Golden Showers )

Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) cones. This pine originates in the Mediterranean and is grown for ornamental purposes in coastal areas

Bhutan fir (Abies densa). The black structures are the female cones

Blue spruce (Picea pungens)
Blue spruce tree (Picea pungens) and dog roses (Rosa canina). The blue spruce tree is native to western North America

Norway spruce cone. Close-up of female Norway spruce cone (Picea abies) scales

Korean fir (Abies koreana) cones and foliage

Calabrian pine (Pinus brutia)
Calabrian pine cones (Pinus brutia). Photographed in Greece, in spring

Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi)
Jeffery pine trees (Pinus jeffreyi). Photographed at around 2000 metres in eastern Sierra Nevada, California, USA

Western white pine (Pinus monticola)
Western white pine tree (Pinus monticola) and a granite boulder. Photographed in Yosemite National Park, Nevada, California, USA, in July

Growth rings of a scots pine tree (Pinus sylvestris). Growth rings are visible in a cross- section of a tree.s trunk once felled

Mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana)
Mountain hemlock tree (Tsuga mertensiana). Photographed at around 3000 metres in the Sierra Nevada, California, USA, in July

Maritime pine flower (Pinus pinaster)
Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) female flowers. This pine originates in the Mediterranean and is grown for ornamental purposes in coastal areas

Blue spruce (Picea pungens Globosa )

White spruce (Picea glauca)

Jeffrey pine and whitebark pine trees
Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi, left) and western white pine (Pinus monticola, right). Photographed in Yosemite National Park, Nevada, California, USA, in July

Blue atlas cedar (Cedrus Glauca )
Blue atlas cedar foliage (Cedrus atlantica Glauca )

Pine tree bark (Pinus sp.). Photographed in Leckford, Hampshire, UK

Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis)
Western juniper tree (Juniperus occidentalis). Photographed at around 3000 metres in the Sierra Nevada, California, USA

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Gymnosperms, a fascinating group of plants, encompass a wide range of species that display unique characteristics and captivating beauty. Take for instance the Taxus baccata, commonly known as the Common Yew tree. Its dark green foliage and red berries add an enchanting touch to any landscape. The Ginkgo biloba, also known as the Maidenhair tree, boasts leaves that are truly remarkable. Their fan-like shape and vibrant yellow color make them stand out in any garden or park. Pine pollen grains, when observed under a light microscope, reveal intricate patterns and structures that showcase nature's artistry. Similarly, examining a pine stem at a microscopic level unveils its complex internal structure and strength. In the Lammermuir Hills of Berwickshire, Scotland stands an awe-inspiring row of Larch trees amidst flowering heather moorland. The misty sunrise adds an ethereal quality to this breathtaking scene. During winter on Vancouver Island in Canada, Western Red Cedar showcases its resilience by donning delicate frost crystals on its branches. This stunning sight is both fragile and enduring at the same time. The Irish yew Fastigiata Aureomarginata is another gem among gymnosperms with its golden-edged evergreen needles adding elegance to gardens across Ireland. Scots pine trees in Torridon create an enchanting atmosphere as they emerge from the mist during sunrise in Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve. These majestic giants command attention with their towering presence. Yew berries found in Berwickshire offer not only visual appeal but also serve as important food sources for wildlife during September months when other resources may be scarce. European larch trees exhibit female cones that are both beautiful and functional; these cones play a vital role in reproduction while adding aesthetic value to Bannogue Bridge in County Down.