DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ANGIOSPERM AND GYMNOSPERM PLANTS - SCIENCE - 2025

Knowing the differences between angiosperms and gymnosperms allows determining the classification patterns of each constituent group of higher plants. In this regard, higher plants whose reproductive structures are recognized by the naked eye are classified under the name of phanerogams.

These plants also called spermatophytes - plants with seeds - have the distinctive structure of a corm. That is to say, three morphologically and physiologically different parts can be easily distinguished: roots, stems and leaves.

Seed protection is the distinguishable character between angiosperms and gymnosperms (Punica granatum). Source: pixabay.com

These species are characterized by being terrestrial, they generally carry out the photosynthesis process, flourish and reproduce by seeds. Spermatophytes comprise approximately 280,000 species, and are classified into two non-taxonomic groups: gymnosperms and angiosperms.

-Angiosperms: angio = vessel, sperm = seed; that is, seeds protected by a structure called the ovary.

-Gymnosperms: gymno = naked, sperm = seed; that is, free seeds, without cover.

Angiosperms

Angiosperms form the largest group of terrestrial plants, the plant tissues and functional organs are characterized by wide differentiation. Morphologically, these plants are herbaceous, shrubby or arboreal.

They are plants that produce flowers and the seeds develop within a protective structure that later becomes fruit. In addition, by the number of cotyledons of their seeds they are classified into dicots and monocots.

- Monocotyledons. The seed has a single cotyledon, such as rice, wheat and corn, as well as floral species such as orchids and daffodils.

- Dicotyledons. The seeds have two cotyledons. The leaves have webbed veins, like rose bushes and sunflowers.

The flowering of magnolias is characteristic of angiosperms. Source: pixabay.com

Angiosperms, frequently called flowering plants, have the following characteristics:

- Temporary or transitory life cycle, which obeys each seasonal phase of the year. They are plants with an annual or biannual cycle, starting germination in spring and culminating in fruiting in autumn.

- The reproductive mechanism present in flowers is unisexual or hermaphroditic.

- It produces true fruits that after fertilization, fulfill the function of protecting the seeds.

- The leaves are often flat and fasciculate.

- Fertilization occurs by indirect pollination, it occurs thanks to the intervention of external agents that facilitate the pollen of one flower to act on the stigma of another.

Gymnosperms

Gymnosperms are plants with free seminal primordia, located outside the pistil. They are generally woody plants, with unisexual flowers of very reduced perianth and anemophilic pollination; some have hermaphroditic flowers.

These plants are divided into two groups: the coniferophytins and the cycadophytins. The coniferofitinos or coniferófitos are trees with long trunks with short lateral branches, and the basal branches shorter than the apical ones.

The leaves are frequently scaly or acicular, with simple stamens and carpels that are never found on the same flower (unisexual flowers). The fruits are located helically around an axis in the form of a strobilus.

As for the cycadophytes or cycadophytes, they comprise about 250 species with rudimentary characteristics. They are shrubs or trees with few branches and compound leaves, with single-celled flowers on separate trunks (dioecious) or hermaphrodite flowers.

The development of a strobilus or pineapple is characteristic of gymnosperms. Source: pixabay.com

In this area, gymnosperms are vascular seed-producing plants. They are commonly called conifers and have the following characteristics:

- Perennial life cycle, does not present variation in relation to climatic changes.

- The foliar area is particular for the filiform and pointed leaves.

- The trees have a woody stem with soft textured wood.

- A pair of discovered ovules are located on the bracts.

- They do not develop true fruits. After fertilization occurs, the seed is produced. In some cases a false pineapple-shaped fruit is produced that protects the seed.

- The seed is unprotected and the vast majority are unisexual.

- Fertilization is carried out by direct pollination. The process occurs when pollen from a flower settles on the stigma of the same flower.

Morphological differences between gymnosperms and angiosperms

Predominant features

Angiosperms: vascular plants with flowers and the seeds are protected by the fruit.

Gymnosperms: vascular plants with free or bare flowers and seeds.

Vegetative form

Angiosperms: arboreal, shrubby and herbaceous.

Gymnosperms: arboreal and shrubby.

Growth habit

Angiosperms: any biotype; herbs, shrubs and trees.

Gymnosperms: trees or shrubs with lignin.

Root

Angiosperms: branched root system without predominance of a main axis. In addition, they present extensive secondary development in woody species.

Gymnosperms: root system of the pivoting type, with shallow roots and considerable secondary growth.

Stem

Angiosperms: thick and woody, diverse with plenty of cork and secondary growth. The stem layers are made up of the cortical epidermis or cortex, the vascular region and the medullary region.

Gymnosperms: woody, uniform with prolific secondary growth. It is made up of bark, vascular cambium and wood.

Cortex

Angiosperms: formed by tracheae and tracheids. They develop hard textured wood.

Gymnosperms: formed by tracheids. The texture of the wood is smooth.

Ramifications

Angiosperms: sympodicam the axes close as they grow.

Gymnosperms: monopodic, all axes are closed during growth.

Leaves

Angiosperms: multiform leaves: sessile, petiolate, simple or compound. The nervous system is complex.

Gymnosperms: sessile leaves, simple or compound, lanceolate or needle-shaped. The nerve system is simple with only one central nerve.

Vascular apparatus

Angiosperms: in the form of conductive vessels or tracheae.

Gymnosperms: these are cells called tracheids.

Cambium

Angiosperms: the cambium present or absent.

Gymnosperms: the cambium is present.

Fruit

Angiosperms: present. They develop true fruits.

Gymnosperms: absent. False fruits are formed that serve to protect the seed.

Number of species

Angiosperms: more than 250,000.

Gymnosperms: Around 850

Distribution and habitat

Angiosperms: terrestrial, aquatic or epiphytic. They are located throughout the planet mainly in the American tropics and in the Amazon.

Gymnosperms: terrestrial. They are located in the tropical region of the planet and in the temperate zones of both hemispheres.

Examples

Angiosperms: cedar, cica, ginkgo biloba, pine, and redwood.

Gymnosperms: avocado, chrysanthemum, custard apple, sunflower and magnolia.

Reproductive differences between angiosperms and gymnosperms

Reproductive structures

Angiosperms: the flowers.

Gymnosperms: strobili.

Lifecycle

Angiosperms: frequently seasonal.

Gymnosperms: perennial.

Reproductive system

Angiosperms: the reproductive system is located in unisexual or bisexual flowers.

Gymnosperms: the reproductive system is unisexual and with cones, pineapple or strobilus.

Gametophytes

Angiosperms: very small, the male 2-3 cells, the female 8 cells or less.

Gymnosperms: male formed by several cells, the female is multicellular, little reduced.

Male gametes

Angiosperms: gametes are not present, only sperm nuclei.

Gymnosperms: they are flagellated and mobile.

Fertilization

Angiosperms: double fertilization occurs, frequently due to symphonogamy, and the archegonium is absent.

Gymnosperms - Fertilization is simple, symphonogamy or zoidiogamy, and archegonium is present.

Ovum

Angiosperms: bi-thymic, with two integuments, enclosed in an ovary.

Gymnosperms: unitegmic, with a single integument, naked.

Seeds

Angiosperms: they are protected within a fruit. They have one or two cotyledons.

Gymnosperms: the seed is bare, devoid of a protective structure. They have numerous cotyledons.

Flower

Angiosperms: basically hermaphroditic flowers.

Gymnosperms: unisexual.

Bracts

Angiosperms: bractted flower (with 1 or 2 profiles) and with perianth composed of petals and sepals.

Gymnosperms: bract flower of the aclamide type, without perianth.

Pollination

Angiosperms: usually by zoophilia (transport agent are animals). Hint: pollen is captured by the stigma.

Gymnosperms: by anemophilia (transport agent is the wind). Directly, the pollen is captured by the ovule.

Dispersion unit

Angiosperms: the fruit (seed surrounded by the wall of the carpel).

Gymnosperms: the seed is naked or at most grouped in pseudo-fruits, the ovule is exposed to the air.

Sexual reproduction

Angiosperms: fast.

Gymnosperms: very slow.

References

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4. Gymnosperms (2015) BioEncyclopedia. Recovered in: bioenciclopedia.com
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