Vinayaka Missions University,Directorate of Distance Education
Salem India
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BOTANY
3 Yr.
MAJOR V PTERIDOPHYTES, GYNOSPERMS AND
PALEOBOTANY(1030345)
UNIT - 01
Chapter I
Characteristic features of Pteridophytes - Classification of Pteridophytes (Reimers 1954), Salient features of main subdivisions of Pteridophytes.
Chapter II
Occurrence, morphology, anatomy and reproduction (excluding developmental stages) and life history of the following genera.
1. Psilotum
2. Lycopodium
3. Isoetus
UNIT - 02
Chapter III
Occurrence, morphology, anatomy and reproduction (excluding developmental stages) and life history of the following genera.
1. Selaginella
2. Equisetum
3. Ophioglossum
Chapter IV
Occurrence, morphology, anatomy and reproduction (excluding developmental stages) and life history of the following genera.
1. Osmunda
2. Adiantum
3. Hymenophyllum
UNIT - 03
Chapter V
Occurrence, morphology, anatomy and reproduction (excluding developmental stages) and life history of the following genera.
1. Marselia
2. Azolla
Chapter VI
Types of steles in Pteridophytes - stelar evolution in Pteridophytes - Heterospory and seed habit -
Apogamy an Apospory.
UNIT - 04
Chapter VII
General characters and affinities of Gymnosperms - Classification of Gymnosperms (Tippo 1944),
Salient features of various orders of Gymnosperms - Distribution and importance of
Gymnosperms.

Chapter VIII
Distribution, morphology, anatomy and reproduction (excluding developmental stages) and significance of the following genera.
1. Cycas
2. Pinus
UNIT - 05
Chapter IX
Distribution, morphology, anatomy and reproduction (excluding developmental stages) and significance of the following genera.
1. Ephedra
2. Gnetum
Chapter X
Geological time scale a brief outline - fossilization - Types of fossils - Compression - Petrification,
Incrustation, Impression, Coal balls, Amber, Pseudofossils.
UNIT - 06
Chapter XI
Detailed study of the following fossil genera belongs to Pteridophytes - Rhynia - Lepidodendron -
Lepidocarpon - Calamites - Botryopteris.
Chapter XII
Detailed study of the following fossil genera belongs to Gymnosperms - Williamsonia.
Books for further reading:
1. Pteridophyta Pooja Discovery Publishing House.
2. Pteridophyta EA Schelpe and NC Anthony . National Botanical Institute.
3. Gymnopsperms VP Singh Sarup & Sons New Delhi.
4. Gymnopsperms SP Bhatnagar and Alok Moitra. New Age International. P Ltd
5. Paleobotany TN Taylor. Cengage Learning
6. Paleobotany & Evolution of Plants WN Stewart & GW Rothwell Cambridge University Press
USA
7. An Introduction to Paleobotany CA Arnold. McGraw Hill Book Company
8. An Introduction to Pteridophyta A Rashid South Asia Books