Definition of Gymnosperms:
Gymnosperms are a class of plants that do not produce seeds
inside of their fruit or ovary.
How do Gymnosperms Work?
The Greek words "gymnos" (naked) and
"Sperma" are where the phrase "Naked seeds" comes from
(seed). Gymnosperms are plants that produce grains, but unlike angiosperms,
they do not produce fruits with their seeds. These plants grow on the scales or
leaves of their surface or at the tips of their stalks, where they form a
cone-shaped structure.
The kingdom "Plantae" and the sub-kingdom
"Embryophyta" are home to gymnosperms. The fossil evidence suggested
that they evolved around 390 million years ago, during the Paleozoic era.
Gymnosperm Characteristics The following are important
gymnosperm characteristics:
1. Flowers
are not produced by them.
2. A fruit
does not produce seeds inside of it. Naked, they are.
3. They can
be found in colder areas with snowfall.
4. They
produce needle-like leaves.
5. They are
woody or perennial and grow into trees or bushes.
6. They are
not separated into stigma, ovary, or style.
Also read: Palynology
Classification of Gymnosperms Gymnosperms is divided into the following four groups:
Cycadophyta Cycads are dioecious, which means that
they reproduce in pairs: Each plant is either all male or all female). Cycads
are plants that produce seeds, but the majority of their species are now
extinct. During the Jurassic and late Triassic periods, they flourished. These
days, people view plants as historical artifacts. These plants typically
have thick trunks, small leaflets attached to a single central stem, and large
compound leaves. They are anywhere from a few centimeters to several meters
tall.
Tropical and subtropical climates are the typical home of
cycads. Some members have adapted to oxygen-poor swampy environments as well as
dry, arid conditions.
Ginkgophyta: Ginkgophyta is a group of Gymnosperms with only
one living species. Currently extinct are all other members of this class.
The large size and fan-shaped leaves of the Ginkgo tree set
them apart. Additionally, Ginkgo trees can be used for a wide variety of
purposes, including cooking and medicine. As a treatment for memory-related
diseases like Alzheimer's, ginkgo leaves are consumed.
Gnetophyta, like all members of the gymnosperm family, are relics
from the past. There are just three species in this genus at the moment. Tropical
trees, shrubs, and plants are typically included in gnetophytes. They are
identified by their delicate, flowering leaves. An ancestral relationship with
angiosperms can be seen in this coating.
Gnetophytes have vessel elements in their xylem, which sets
them apart from other class members.
The most well-known species in the gymnosperm family are the
Coniferophyta. They are enduring; Consequently, they do not shed leaves during
the winter. The male and female cones, which form structures resembling
needles, are primarily what distinguishes these.
Temperate regions with an average temperature of 10 °C are
typically home to coniferous trees. Conifers include redwoods, gigantic
sequoias, pines, and cedars.
Examples of Gymnosperms The following are some examples of
gymnosperms:
• Cycas • Pinus • Araucaria • Thuja • Cedrus • Picea • Abies
• Juniperus • Larix Gymnosperm Life Cycle Gymnosperms have a haploid and
diploid life cycle, which means that they reproduce by changing generations.
Sporophytes dominate their life cycle.
The phase of the gametophyte is relatively brief. Cones
typically function as the reproductive organs.
Male cones have microsporangia-containing microsporophylls.
Haploid microspores are produced by Microsporangium. The majority of
microspores degenerate, while a select few mature into male gametes known as
pollen grains.
Female Cones: Female cones are formed when the
megasporophylls cluster together. They have megasporangium-filled ovules. It
produces a megaspore mother cell and haploid megaspores.
The sperm are released by the pollen grain when it reaches
the egg via wind or any other pollinating agent. When the nuclei of male and
female gametophytes combine, a zygote is created. Fertilization is the term for
this.
On the gymnosperm's cones, the seed appears in the form of
scales.
The Gymnosperms are planted in the sub-kingdom Embophyta
that do not produce flowers.
• There is neither an ovary nor a fruit that houses the
seeds. On the surface of the gymnosperms' leaf-like structures, they are
visible.
• They can be divided into four groups: Ginkgophyta,
Cycadophyta, Coniferophyta, and Gnetophyta.
• Both boreal and temperate forests are home to gymnosperms.
Also read: Mammalia
FAQ
1. What is a gymnosperm?
Gymnosperms, which include conifers, cycads, gnetophytes,
and ginkgos, are plants that produce seeds. They have no seeds and don't make
fruits or blooms.
2. Is there a gymnosperm embryo?
Gymnosperms do indeed possess an embryo. The embryo and
endosperm are enclosed in a seed coat when the ovule transforms into the seed
in gymnosperms. However, after fertilization, the ovule does not produce fruit.
3. Give a few gymnosperm examples.
Gymnosperms include Cycas, pinus, Thuja, Cedrus, Abies, and
Larix.
4. What distinguishes a gymnosperm from an angiosperm?
Gymnosperms are plants that do not produce flowers, whereas
angiosperms produce flowers. Gymnosperms lack flowers or fruits and have naked
seeds on the surface of their leaves, whereas angiosperms have seeds enclosed
in an ovary (a fruit).
5. What kinds of gymnosperms are there?
Cycadophyta, Ginkophyta, Gnetophyta, and Coniferophyta are
the four groups of gymnosperms.
6. Which stage dominates the gymnosperm life cycle?
The haploid stage is the predominant stage in the existing
pattern of the gymnosperms. At this point, haploid gametes are produced by a
multicellular haploid gametophyte that emerges from the spore. When it reaches
maturity, the gametophyte produces male and female gametes that join together
to form a diploid zygote.
7. Where can you find gymnosperms?
When snowfall occurs, gymnosperms are typically found in
colder regions. Cycads, on the other hand, can be found in tropical and dry
areas.