Introduction
Plants are an integral part of our life and earth system. The plant kingdom is widely classified into Spermatophyte and Aspermatophyta. Spermatophyta, as the name suggests, includes plants that produce seeds during their life cycle. Whereas Spermatophyta is those plants that are seedless. This spermatophyte is divided into two groups namely gymnosperms and angiosperms. The following article is about the differences between gymnosperms and angiosperms
- Gymnosperms: made from Gymno (Naked) + Sperm (Seed)
- Angiosperms: made from Angio (Vessel) + Sperm (Seed)
Therefore, as the name suggests above, the gymnosperm plants have naked seeds and do not have flowers not covered in ovaries or fruits. While angiosperms bear flowers and seeds are covered in fruits. Hence, the major difference between gymnosperms and angiosperms is the absence and presence of the cover around the seeds.
Main characteristic features of Gymnosperms
1. The gymnosperms Plants are perennial in nature
2. Gymnosperms are woody plants with roots, stems, and leaves.
3. The roots of gymnosperms are taproot.
4. Leaves of gymnosperms are generally folios (green, simple, or compound leaves) or scale leaves (brown, small, and dry).
5. All the plants of the gymnosperm family have secondary growth.
6. The xylem lacks vessels but has tracheids and xylem parenchyma.
7. The phloem lacks companion cells but has sieve cells and phloem parenchyma.
8. The plants are heterosporous in nature with both megasporangium and microsporangium on megasporophyll and microsporophyll. Thus, it forms cones and strobilus.
9. Ovules are naked and are present on megasporophyll.
10. Microspore gives rise to male gametophytes which are released from microsporangium.
11. Pollination in gymnosperms is mainly via wind.
12. Gymnosperms have poorly developed gymnosperms.
The main characteristic features of Angiosperms
1. Angiosperms, as the name suggests, are flower-bearing plants.
2. These plants are generally annual, biannual, and perineal in nature.
3. Depending upon the life span these plants are woody and non-woody.
4. The roots of angiosperms are either tap roots or adventitious roots.
5. Leaves of angiosperms are simple, compound, and green in nature. Depending upon the plants the leaves are further classified under monocots and dicots.
6. Angiosperms have vessels in the xylem and companion in the phloem.
7. Angiosperm ovules are not naked and are covered by fruits.
8. Double fertilization occurs in angiosperms.
9. Pollination is via many methods like wind, insects, water, and birds.
10. Angiosperms are more advanced than gymnosperms.
11. In angiosperms, there is a distinct gametophytic and sporophytic stage.
Difference Between Gymnosperms and Angiosperms
Gymnosperm |
Angiosperm |
| They are generally large woody trees | Angiosperm plants are herbs, shrubs, and trees. |
| Gymnosperm’s xylem lacks vessels and the phloem lacks companions except in Gnetales. | Angiosperms have vessels in the xylem and companions in the phloem. |
| The seeds of gymnosperms are known as naked seeds as they are not covered by fruits. | The seeds are covered by fruits in angiosperms |
| Gymnosperms are unisexual | Most of the angiosperms are bisexual |
| The reproductive organs of gymnosperms are known as cones or strobili. | Reproductive organs are known as flowers in angiosperms. |
| Gymnosperms have archegonium in the female gametophyte. | Angiosperms lack archegonium |
| In gymnosperms, the pollination takes place only by the wind. | The pollination in angiosperms mainly occurs by insects and in some cases by wind, water, and birds. |
| Gymnosperms have free nuclear division during embryo development. | Free nuclear division is absent in angiosperms. |
| Pollination is direct in gymnosperms as the microspores fall directly on the exposed ovules. | Pollination is indirect in angiosperms as the pollen has to reach to stigma. |
| Double fertilization does not take place in gymnosperms therefore it is haploid as the development occurs before fertilization. | Angiosperms pass through the process of double fertilization therefore its endosperm is triploid. |
Key differences
Angiosperms are more developed plants having a proper vascular and reproductive system. Double fertilization, gametophytic, and sporophytic stages are there in angiosperms whereas absent in gymnosperms.
