Describe the important characteristics of gymnosperms.

The important characteristics of gymnosperms are:
• The seeds of gymnosperm plants are not enclosed in fruits.
• The plant body ranges from medium size to tall trees and also shrubs. The giant
redwood tree Sequoia is one of the tallest trees in our world.
• The gymnosperm’s root system consists of taproots. The coralloid roots present in
Cycas are related to nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria.
• The stems are often branched as we can see in Pinus and Cedrus or unbranched as seen
in Cycas.
• The leaves can be simple as observed in Pinus or compound as observed in pinnate in
Cycas. The needle-like leaves with a thick cuticle are present along with sunken
stomata. These stomata help in preventing water loss. • Gymnosperms are heterosporous and bear two kinds of spores namely microspores and
megaspores.
• Flowers are absent but compact male and female cones are present which are formed
due to the specific arrangement of microsporophylls and megasporophylls
• Pollination mostly occurs through wind and through micropyle the pollen grains reach
the pollen chamber of the ovule.
• The male and female gametophytes are hooked into the sporophyte.
• The seeds contain haploid endosperms and the covering of the megasporangium turns
into a diploid seed shell.