Experimental Conclusion/Analysis

Our experiment shows that our original hypothesis, that gymnosperm pollen would be smaller than angiosperm pollen, was incorrect. By analyzing our S.E.M. photos, we see that the pollen of the Deodar Cedar is actually much larger than the pollen samples from the Ponsettia and the Christmas Cactus. The Cedar's pollen measured 63.5 micrometers, while the Ponsettia's measured 52.0 micrometers and the Christmas Cactus's measured 52.2 micrometers. Additionally, by looking at pollen morphology and genetic sequencing, we see that the Ponsettia and the Christmas Cactus are more closely related with each other than with the Cedar. These two phylogenetic trees compliment each other, and they are both supported by the fact that both the Ponsettia and the Christmas Cactus are angiosperms, with developed later than the Cedar, which is a gymnosperm.