Question

While on an expedition to south america, you discover a new plant species. although you are certain it is a gymnosperm, you are interested in determining its phylum. the identification of what attributes would cause you to classify this new species to the phylum coniferophyta over other gymnosperm phyla?

Answer 1

The two attributes that you need to classify the new species to coniferophyta over other phyta are needle-like or scalelike leaves with a waxy cuticle and absence of seasonal leaf shedding because these two qualities are only found in coniferophyta.