Difference between angiosperms and gymnosperms

These are the main differences between angiosperm and gymnosperm plants :

• Plants belonging to the gymnosperms group are generally woody, while angiosperms are mostly herbaceous.
• The branching of gymnosperms is always monopodic, while angiosperms are sympathetic.
• In the case of gymnosperms we speak of a pivoting root system with superficial roots, while in angiosperms they have a branched root system without a main axis.
• The log of gymnosperms is formed only by tracheids, in the case of angiosperms it is composed of both tracheids and tracheas.
• Gymnosperms have evergreen leaves. Instead, angiosperms can be both deciduous and evergreen.
• Gymnosperm pollination is anemophilic and direct. This means that the pollen is directly captured by the ovum. In angiosperms, pollination is zoophilic and indirect, so the pollen is captured by the stigma.
• The fertilization of gymnosperms is simple and that of angiosperms is double.
• Gymnosperm seeds are naked and have numerous cotyledons, whereas angiosperms have only 1 or 2 cotyledons and are found inside the fruit.
• The reproduction of gymnosperms is much slower than that of angiosperms.
• There are more than 250,000 species within the group of angiosperms, while gymnosperms have only about 850 different species.

Next we will see what are the angiosperms and gymnosperms plants with examples.

The angiosperm plants make up the largest group of land plants with no less than 250,000 copies. Also known as cormophytes, that is, plants with differentiated tissues and organs, they are those that are characterized mainly by having the so-called true flowers . In addition, these have what is known as a pedicel, a small leaf born in the axillary area of ​​the bract.

In its case, the seeds remain enclosed and protected by the carpels or the ovary wall until it is pollinated and becomes fruit. Within this classification we will not only find herbaceous plants, but also shrub and arboreal ones. By the number of cotyledons of their seeds they are classified into two groups: dicots and monocots.

Dicotyledons

They are those whose seeds are provided with two cotyledons that are located on each side of the embryo. The main root of these plants is very resistant and is maintained until the end of the plant’s life. As for the stem, dicotyledonous plants have vessels arranged in circles. Among these, woody and Liberian, is a tissue called cambium. Its function is to help the growth and thickness of the stem.

Learn more about it with this other post on What is a cotyledon .

Monocots

Those that are distinguished by having a complete and visible flower. In addition, it has a single embryonic leaf, or cotyledon, that completely envelops the seed. The roots of this type of plant are of the fasciculate type. The stem, unlike dicotyledons, is not usually branched so they do not have a cambium. In fact, in the case of herbaceous plants, the stem is hollow. As for the flowers, they usually appear almost always in multiples of three.

We recommend that you discover more information about What are monocotylidean plants and examples with this other article.

Gymnosperms are seed plants, also known as spermatophytes , where both the ovules and the seeds are not covered or enclosed. They are generally woody plants , like trees and shrubs .

As for their leaves, they are usually simple, mainly small and acicular or needle-shaped. In addition, with few exceptions, the leaves of angiosperms are evergreen . They are also known or identified more easily because they do not have true flowers.

In addition, in some species the seeds have a wing to allow dispersal by the wind, this type of structure is known as samara. Therefore, both pollination and fertilization are a slow process that can take more than a year.