Describe the important characteristics of gymnosperms.

Important features of gymnosperms:

1. The term gymnosperm refers to plants with naked seeds(gymnos – naked, sperma – seeds), i.e., theseeds of these plants are not enclosed in fruits.

2. The plant-body ranges from medium to tall trees andshrubs. The giant redwood tree Sequoia is one of the tallesttrees in the world.

3. The root system consists of tap roots. The coralloidroots present in Cycas are associated with nitrogen-fixingcyanobacteria.

4. The stem can be branched (as in Pinus and Cedrus)or un-branched (as in Cycas).

5. The leaves can be simple (as in Pinus)or compound(pinnate in Cycas). The leaves are needle-like, with a thickcuticle and sunken stomata. These help in preventing water loss.

6. Gymnosperms are heterosporous. They bear two kinds ofspores – microspores and megaspores.

7. Flowers are absent. The microsporophylls andmegasporophylls are arranged to form compact male and female cones.

8. Pollination occurs mostly through wind and pollen grainsreach the pollen chamber of the ovule through the micropyle.

9. The male and female gametophytes are dependent on thesporophyte.

10. The seeds contain haploid endosperms and remainuncovered.