Difference Between Angiosperm & Gymnosperm

What are Angiosperms and Gymnosperms?

An angiosperm plant is called a flowering plant. A gymnosperm plant is called a non-flowering plant. These plants are classified into vascular-containing plant groups. Gymnosperms are ancient plants found to date on the earth. Angiosperm plant flowers can be bisexual or unisexual. Bisexual means both male and female flowers present in the same plant, and unisexual means any one male or female flower present in the same plant. Angiosperm includes different types of body forms such as herbs, shrubs, vines, and trees.

Angiosperm plants are divided into various families, such as the Orchidaceae family, the Asteraceae family, Fabaceae family. The Orchidaceae family plant (called an orchid) is found in higher numbers, and it is generally found on rocks and pollinated by fly vectors. The Asteraceae family is also called the composite family. It is mostly found in high-temperature regions and subtropical regions of the Earth. The Fabaceae family is also called the legume family, and this family is the third largest angiosperm family, which can produce root nodules, which is beneficial for bacteria as well as plants to do nitrogen fixation.

Angiosperms and Gymnosperms Plants Terminology Explanation

The terminology, what is angiosperm and gymnosperm is widely used in the field of botany. These two words are Greek words.

Gymnosperm is made up of two words, that is ‘gymnos’ and ‘Sperma’, ‘gymnos’ means open or uncovered and ‘sperma’ means seed.

The word angiosperm is also made up of two words, ‘Angeoin’ and ‘Sperma’. The ‘Angeoin’ means vessel or hollow structure within a seed, and 'Sperma’ means seed.

This terminology shows the main difference between angiosperms and gymnosperms. Angiosperms are flowering plants with seeds enclosed in fruits. Gymnosperms are non‑flowering plants with seeds exposed on cones

Difference Between Angiosperm And Gymnosperm

The difference between angiosperms and gymnosperm with some examples, lies primarily in their seed structure. Angiosperms have seeds enclosed in fruits, such as apples and oranges, while gymnosperms have naked seeds found on cones, like pine cones. To write the difference between angiosperms and gymnosperms, one must note that angiosperms produce seeds enclosed within fruits, while gymnosperms have naked seeds that are not protected by any covering. The difference between angiosperms and gymnosperms is given in the table form below:

How are Angiosperms and Gymnosperms Similar?

What is angiosperm and gymnosperm is not only about differences but also about similarities. Both groups fall under seed-bearing vascular plants, whose specialised tissues specialise in Transportation In Plants.

• Both angiosperms and gymnosperms use pollen to gain fertilisation, with the mechanisms as well as the structures involved having significant differences between the two groups.

• The similarities, according to ecological roles, in how angiosperms and gymnosperms contribute to ecosystems include providing habitat as well as food for other organisms such as insects and animals.

• Another similarity between these two groups is how angiosperms and gymnosperms are similar, including their ability to survive in a variety of environments, although the angiosperms generally show more diversity in their habitat preferences.

• Finally, discussing how angiosperms and gymnosperms are similar, one can note that both involve critical roles in the carbon cycle, offering sequestration of carbon through photosynthesis.

Examples of Angiosperm and Gymnosperm

In terms of diversity, the difference between angiosperms and gymnosperms, with some examples, is clear. Angiosperms are more diverse, with around 300,000 species, including grasses and legumes, compared to gymnosperms, which have over 1,000 species like spruce and cedar.

Examples of angiosperm plants are apple, rose, mango, wheat, tomato, orchid, walnut, and dandelion. Examples of gymnosperm plants are pine, spruce, ginkgo, cycas, cedar, thuja, and araucaria. These examples show the clear difference between angiosperms and gymnosperms in seed structure, reproduction, and ecological role.

NEET MCQs on Angiosperms and Gymnosperms

Question: Angiosperms differ from gymnosperms

1. In having compound leaves.

2. Being evergreen.

3. Being smaller size.

4. In having ovules enclosed in an ovary.

Correct Answer: 4) In having ovules enclosed in an ovary.

Explanation:

Angiosperms or flowering plants, on the whole, have several distinguishing characteristics.

• The structure of the gynoecium refers to a pistil, comprising one or more carpels in which one or two ovules occur in an ovary.

• Ovule: Ovule occurs in various forms. Among the most common of them are Anatropous. These ovules bear a single megaspore mother cell, which in meiosis undergoes reduction and becomes four haploid megaspores.

• Female Gametophyte Formation: In this manner, one of the megaspores usually acts as the female gametophyte or embryo sac, with eight nuclei and seven cells. This plant has the following components:

• Egg Apparatus: There is a cell known as the egg cell, which comprises three cells along with two synergids.

• Central Cell: This contains two polar nuclei.

• Antipodals: Three cells are present on the other side of the embryo sac.

• Pollination and Fertilisation: The pollen tube enters the ovule through the synergids, and two male gametes are released into the embryo sac for fertilisation.

• Seed and Fruit Formation: Angiosperms are the only plants that produce seeds enclosed in fruits, which develop from the ovary after fertilisation, helping in seed dispersal and protection.

• These features together make angiosperms successful in reproduction and diversity in different environments.

Hence, the correct answer is option 4) In having ovules enclosed in an ovary.

Question: Double fertilisation is found without exception in

1. Funaria

2. Adiantum

3. Mangifera indica

4. Cycas revoluta

Correct answer: 3) Mangifera indica

Explanation:

Mangifera indica is an angiosperm. One male gamete of Mangifera indica fuses with the egg cell to form a diploid zygote, which later develops into the embryo. The other male gamete fuses with the two polar nuclei to form a triploid endosperm nucleus. This nucleus develops into the endosperm, which provides nourishment to the embryo.

Hence, the correct answer is option 3) Mangifera indica.

Question: Among the major groups of the plant kingdom, gymnosperms differ from angiosperms with respect to

1. Naked seed

2. Presence of fruits

3. Presence of double fertilisation

4. Seeds in the ovary

Correct Answer: 1) Naked seed

Explanation:

Gymnosperms have naked seeds. Seeds are not enclosed in fruits. Angiosperms have fruits. Gymnosperms do not. Double fertilisation occurs only in angiosperms, not in gymnosperms. Seeds in the ovary are a feature of angiosperms, not gymnosperms.

Hence, the correct answer is option 1) Naked seed.