Question

Describe what makes gymnosperm different from angiosperms? and why angiosperms are better suited to survive in their environment?

Answer 1

Differences between gymnosperms and angiosperms:

	Characteristics	Angiosperms	Gymnosperms
	Naked/enclosed seed	A seed is produced by flowering plants and is enclosed within an ovary	A seed is produced by non-flowering plants and are unenclosed or naked.
	Perenial/ anual	The lifecycle of these plants are seasonal	These plants are evergreen
	Fertilisation	double fertilization	single fertilisation
	Endosperm	Has triploid tissue	Has haploid tissue
	Leaf shape	Leaves are flat in shape	Leaves are scalelike and needle-like in shape which is a xerophytic adaptation
	Vascular system	Xylem with xylem vessel ,phloem include comaninon cell and cambium present.	Xylem , phloem and cambium present but Xylem vessel and campanion cells are absent
	Wood type	Hardwood type(monoxylic wood) -non porous	Softwood type-porous
	Pollination aids	Reproduction rely on animals	Reproduction rely on wind- pollen with wings
	Reproductivle system	Reproductive system present in flowers anther and stamen (unisexual or bisexual)	Reproductive system present in cones and are unisexual

Angiosperms have vascular bundles, allowing them to grow taller and shade out undergrowth. They are also able to produce spores, which are more stable structures than gymnosperm seeds. They also produce flowers, fruit and pollen which aid in seed dispersal, unlike angiosperms. Angiosperms also do not require water for reproduction. Finally, angiosperms exhibit metagenesis, or alternation of generations, in which one generation reproduces sexually and the next asexually according to environmental conditions.Double fertilisation where nutrition rich triploid tissue ie. Endosperm provide nutition to growing embryo.