Describe the important characteristics of gymnosperms.
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Ans. The important characteristics of gymnosperms are:
The seeds of gymnosperm plants are not enclosed in fruits.
The plant body ranges from medium size to tall trees and also shrubs. The giant redwood tree Sequoia is one of the tallest trees in our world.
The gymnosperm's root system consists of taproots. The coralloid roots present in Cycas are related to nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria.
The stems are often branched as we can see in Pinus and Cedrus or unbranched as seen in Cycas.
The leaves can be simple as observed in Pinus or compound as observed in pinnate in Cycas. The needle-like leaves with a thick cuticle are present along with sunken stomata. These stomata help in preventing water loss.
Gymnosperms are heterosporous and bear two kinds of spores namely microspores and megaspores.
Flowers are absent but compact male and female cones are present which are formed due to the specific arrangement of microsporophylls and megasporophylls
Pollination mostly occurs through wind and through micropyle the pollen grains reach the pollen chamber of the ovule.
The male and female gametophytes are hooked into the sporophyte.
The seeds contain haploid endosperms and the covering of the megasporangium turns into a diploid seed shell.