- Angiosperms
- Gymnosperms
- Morphological differences between gymnosperms and angiosperms
- Predominant features
- Vegetative form
- Growth habit
- Root
- Stem
- Cortex
- Ramifications
- Leaves
- Vascular apparatus
- Cambium
- Fruit
- Number of species
- Distribution and habitat
- Examples
- Reproductive differences between angiosperms and gymnosperms
- Reproductive structures
- Lifecycle
- Reproductive system
- Gametophytes
- Male gametes
- Fertilization
- Ovum
- Seeds
- Flower
- Bracts
- Pollination
- Dispersion unit
- Sexual reproduction
- References
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
- Angiosperms (2015) BioEncyclopedia. Recovered in: bioenciclopedia.com
- Jimenez Mateo (2008) CFGM Forestry and Natural Environment Conservation Works Agrotechnology (Botany). 12 p. Recovered at: educarm.es
- Garrido Gómez Rocío and Fernández Weigand Guillermo (2018) Plants Angiosperms and Gymnosperms. Nomen Plantor ® Recovered in: botanipedia.org
- Gymnosperms (2015) BioEncyclopedia. Recovered in: bioenciclopedia.com
- Lindorf, H., De Parisca, L., Rodríguez, P. (1991). Botany: classification, structure and reproduction. Second edition. Central University of Venezuela. Library Editions. Caracas.
- Raven PH; Evert RF & SE Eichhorn (1991) Plant Biology, 2 vols. Ed. Reverté, SA
- Spermatophyta (2018). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: wikipedia.org