Gymnosperms
Seeds with stored food, and no need of water to fertilise.
A pine on a dry hill
Pines grow in cold and dry regions. They bear cones.
What do you think helps a pine in a dry place?
What this lesson covers
The idea
Gymnosperms have needle- or scale-like leaves that reduce water loss, need no water for fertilisation, and produce seeds with stored food that protect the embryo; the seeds are naked, not enclosed in fruits, often on cones.
A pine on a dry hill
Pines grow in cold and dry regions. They bear cones.
What do you think helps a pine in a dry place?
- Needle-like leaves that reduce water loss
- Broad leaves that lose lots of water
- Roots that must stay under water
Features of a gymnosperm
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Seeds without fruits
Gymnosperms are well adapted to cold and dry regions. They do not need water for fertilisation, and their seeds carry stored food. The seeds lie uncovered, often on cones, which is why the name means naked seed.
Gymnosperms have needle- or scale-like leaves that reduce water loss, need no water for fertilisation, and produce seeds with stored food that protect the embryo; the seeds are naked, not enclosed in fruits, often on cones.
Notes
Gymnosperms have needle- or scale-like leaves, need no water for fertilisation and make naked seeds with stored food, often on cones.
Check yourself
What do gymnosperm seeds contain besides the embryo?
What does gymnos mean?
How do needle-like or scale-like leaves help gymnosperms?
Do gymnosperms need aquatic conditions for fertilisation?
- A fruit around them. Gymnosperm seeds are not enclosed in fruits.
- Stored food — correct. Yes!
- A flower. The book says gymnosperm seeds are not enclosed in fruits, and flowers belong to angiosperms.
- Flowering. Angiosperms are the flowering plants.
- Feather. Pteris comes from pteron, meaning feather, in the name of pteridophytes.
- Naked — correct. Yes!
- They reduce water loss — correct. Yes!
- They attract pollinators. Flowers attract pollinators. Gymnosperms have cones.
- They carry water to the roots. The book says these leaves reduce water loss and withstand harsh conditions.
- Yes, like bryophytes. Bryophytes need water for reproduction, but gymnosperms do not.
- No, they do not — correct. Yes!
- Yes, like ferns. Pteridophytes require aquatic conditions. Gymnosperms do not.