Types of Trees
Types of Trees There are two general types of trees, angiosperms and gymnosperms . Angiosperms are flowering plants in which the ovule, or seed, is encased in a protective ovary. With about 235,000 species, the angiosperm division is the largest and most diverse plant group. It is divided into dicots , plants with two cotyledons (seed leaf structures), that include the familiar broadleaf trees such as maple and oak ; and the monocots , plants with one cotyledon that include the palms and lily trees. Unlike angiosperms, gymnosperms (Greek for “naked seed”) do not bear flowers. Their seeds lie exposed in structures such as cones or fleshy cups called arils. The group includes about 500 tree species—including three major types, needle-leaf trees (or conifers ), ginkgos , and cycads . A. Angiosperms As angiosperms, all dicots produce flowers, and their seeds are always enclosed in a protective covering. In temperate regions, most of these broadleaf trees are deciduous, meaning that they