Tag: flowers and fruits

Gymnosperms are wind-pollinated plants. They do not have to cover around seeds. They do not produce fruits or flowers. After pollination, they produce pollen tubes. This pollen tube carries the sperm cells to the egg. These eggs are located within the integument megasporangium. So, all these are the characteristics of gymnosperms.

Gymnosperms are woody, ever green trees. They are found where snow is the source of water and not rains. Their dominant plant body is sporophyte. It is differentiated into roots, stems and leaves. They are xerophytic due to presence of thick bark, scales, cuticles, sunken stomata etc.

The rachis and leaflet have diploxylic vascular bundles. At the region ofthe stem cortex, the leaf trace has only centrifugal xylem, hence, it is endarch. These traces enter the leaf as the rachis separates, the centripetal xylem appears and it is in the exarch condition. The leaflet has a single midrib bundle and is in the diploxylic condition.

Phanerogams, also known as spermatophytes, refer to "all seed plants". Gymnosperms are the seed bearing plants wherein seeds are naked i.e. not enclosed by ovary or fruit. Angiosperms are seed bearing plants wherein seeds are enclosed within ovary or fruit. Since both gymnosperms and angiosperms are seed-bearing plants and therefore are included under phanerogams. Pteridophytes (ferns) are categorized under cryptogams, not under phanerogams, as they do not form seed or flowers. Thus, the correct answer is option D.

Both gymnosperms and angiosperms are seed-bearing vascular plants. Gymnosperms are the seed bearing plants wherein seeds are naked i.e. not enclosed by ovary or fruit. Angiosperms are seed bearing plants wherein seeds are enclosed within ovary or fruit. Both have a well-differentiated stem, root and leaves. Thus, the correct answer is option B.

Endosperm in gymnosperms is formed before fertilization and is always haploid.

Bordered pits xylem tracheids are common in gymnosperms.

Vessels are limited in growth, are joined end to end to form continuous tubular structures with perforations in their cross walls. Water and minerals are efficiently conducted through these perforations. Vessels are present in most of the angiosperms. Tracheids are elongated and non-perforated. They have only pit pairs, at the regions of union with other tracheids. Conduction of water and minerals is not as efficient as in vessels. Tracheids are found in most of the gymnosperms.
Thus, the correct answer is option A.