Plants Naked at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

Under this natural classification all species of pines are grouped together in the pine genus, Pinus, for example. Pines and related genera, such as spruces, firs, and hemlocks, compose the pine family (Pinaceae). This and related families make up the conifers or softwoods, classed with the gymnosperms (plants naked with naked seeds). Most tree species are hardwoods, being classified as dicotyledons (palms and bamboos are monocotyledons) and as flowering plants naked or angiosperms (plants naked with enclosed seeds). Of more than 300 plant families of seed plants naked, about 150 contain trees.

In the Gymnosperms (naked-seeded plants naked), the seeds are borne on the surface of the carpel or cone scale. These are all woody, perennial forms and, with few exceptions, are evergreens. They are of great economic importance as sources of timber and resinous materials such as turpentine. They are a relatively small group, about 500 species. In the Angiosperms (covered-seeded plants naked), the seeds are formed within a closed structure, the ovary. There are more than 130,000 species of Angiosperms, a greater number than in any other class of plants naked.

FOR CULTURAL reasons, some plants naked need a special environment: many alpines need a rockery, scree bed or Sink garden, while bog plants naked require damp soil and aquatic plants naked depend on water. In a small backyard, you may not have room for more than a few plants naked of each type.