Angiosperms and gymnosperms are the fundamental concepts of biological plants. Both angiosperms and gymnosperms have plants, leaves, seeds, and roots, however, the development of seeds is what makes both the terms different from each other. Moreover, non-flowering plants like gymnosperms do not produce fruits or flowers, while flowering plants like angiosperms are capable of producing fruits and flowers.
Angiosperms vs Gymnosperms
The main difference between Angiosperms and Gymnosperms is that the Angiosperms are capable of rendering fruits and flowers, through the seeds enclosed within the ovary. Meanwhile, Gymnosperms fall under the non-flowering plants’ category, where the unenclosed seeds present on the surface of the leaves, are incapable of producing fruits and flowers.
Gymnosperms are non-flowering plants that have leaves, stems, seeds, roots, and many more. However, the term is a Greek word meaning ‘naked seeds’, where the seeds remain unenclosed by the ovary. Meanwhile, these seeds are visible on the surface of the leaves or scales of the flowers. The most common and ubiquitous gymnosperm is conifers, like pines, and cypresses.
On the other hand, Angiosperms popularly refer to flowering plants that enclose seeds within their ovaries or flowers. Angiosperm plants are capable of reproducing flowers and fruits with seeds. This word also comes from Greek, meaning ‘container seed’ because of the protective seeds. Plants that come under this category are trees, shrubs, grasses, and fruits.
Comparison Table Between Angiosperms and Gymnosperms
| Parameters of Comparison | Angiosperms | Gymnosperms |
| Meaning | Angiosperms are flowering plants, where seeds are enclosed within their ovaries & ovules and produce fruits & flowers. | Gymnosperms are non-flowering plants, where seeds are naked and neither generate flowers nor fruits. |
| Evolution | Angiosperms evolved during the late Cretaceous period (100-125 million years ago) | Gymnosperms are the first seed to have evolved in the world about 310 million years ago. |
| Type of Plant | They are mostly bisexual plants that are softwood as well as hardwood. | They are unisexual plants that come in woody trees. |
| Pollination | In Angiosperms, pollination occurs through various mechanisms especially by insects, bats, wind, etc. | In Gymnosperms, pollination takes place via wind dispersal of pollen. |
| Examples | Monocotyle, Palms, Orchids, Eudicots, Daisy Family, Grasses, Dicotyledon, etc. | Maidenhair trees, Melinjo, Parana Pine, Coast redwood, Sago Palm, Sugi, and many more. |
What is Angiosperms?
It is commonly referred to as angiosperms, which is a flowering plant that contains seeds within its ovaries, and ovules & pollen grains within its flowers. Angiosperm plants are very beneficial as they reproduce blooms and fruits from seeds. About 125 to 100 million years ago, angiosperms evolved during the Cretaceous Period.
As the seeds are protected by either the flowers or fruits, the word angiosperm basically derives from Greek that means ‘container seed’. Angiosperms are vascular plants with roots, stems, and leaves, and the seeds contain either male and female or both reproductive organs of the plants, which develop fruits and flowers. Meanwhile, the stamens produce the small pollen grains, which act as a messenger by carrying genetic information from flower to flower.
The widespread vegetation on earth is due to the presence of these angiosperm plants. Furthermore, they are very important, as they act as the source of food for various animals, birds, and human beings, plus raw materials for several commercial products.
In addition to flowering and producing fruit, angiosperms produce pollen, and this pollen can be transported by insects after the harvest. Besides, angiosperms are classified into two classes, dicotyledons, monocotyledons. As angiosperms, plants are classified into numerous groups, including fruits, grains, vegetables, trees, grasses, shrubs, and flowers.
What is Gymnosperms?
Plants that are classified as gymnosperms have non-flowering parts like leaves, stems, seeds, roots, and many more. Yet this is actually a Greek term for ‘naked seeds’ since the seeds remain unassailable by the ovary. To put it in simple words, gymnosperms belong under the category of non-flowering plants, where seeds on the leaves are not enclosed, so they cannot bear fruit or flowers.
Over and above, these seeds are visible on the surface of the leaves or scales of the flowers. In rocks from the Upper Devonian Series, the earliest seedlike bodies were found around 382.7 million years ago. As a result, the evolution of gymnosperms began.
The characteristics of gymnosperms include tall evergreen trees, roots, woody stems, needle-shaped leaves, vascular tissues (Xylem and Phloem) for transportation purposes, cones with reproductive structures, and naked seeds in female cones. Gymnosperms are heterosporous that produce both male and female spores, which subsequently develop into pollen grains, and are eventually placed in an ovule through wind pollination.
Gymnosperms are widely accepted as highly productive Plantae, especially for economic uses, where papers, lumber, soap, varnish, gum, and resin are produced at a great scale. Conifers, like pines and cypresses, are the most common gymnosperms.
Main Differences Between Angiosperms and Gymnosperms
- Angiosperms are flower & fruit-producing plants, whereas gymnosperms are non-flowering producing plants.
- Angiosperms seeds are enclosed within ovaries or ovules and pollen within its flowers. On the contrary, gymnosperms seeds are naked on the surface of the leaves that remain unassailable by the ovaries.
- Angiosperms came to this planet about 125-100 million years ago, said during the Cretaceous period, while gymnosperms are considered the first and oldest seeds that evolved on the planet around 310 million years ago.
- Angiosperms are commonly bisexual reproducing plants, where the plant woods are hard as well as soft. On the other hand, Gymnosperms are unisexual reproduction plant where it produces both male & female pores and has softwood type.
- Angiosperms pollination is done through various acts such as by insects, bats, and winds, etc. On the other hand, gymnosperm pollination occurs during wind dispersal mechanisms.
- Examples of Angiosperms are- Monocotyle, Palms, Orchids, Eudicots, Daisy Family, Grasses, Dicotyledon, etc. Whereas, gymnosperms examples are- Maidenhair trees, Melinjo, Parana Pine, Sugi, Coast redwood, Sago Palm, and many more.
Conclusion
Plants are divided into two groups: angiosperms and gymnosperms, literally covering 80% of green plants that are present on the earth. Both are seed-bearing plants with little in common. In comparison to gymnosperms, angiosperms have a wider range of species. Angiosperms have a higher diversity of species due to their flexibility in terrestrial habitats. Flowering plants, often known as angiosperms, have seeds encased within their fruit.
Gymnosperms, on the other hand, have no blooms or fruits and only have naked seeds. Both seeds are considered the oldest plant on the earth, as it is stated Angiosperms are 125 million years old and Gymnosperms are 310 million years old.
References
- https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/19641603263
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02874305