What are Angiosperms and Gymnosperm?
The term “Angiosperm” is derived from a Greek word that implies a container. The angiosperm is basically a plant that has seeds in mature ovaries or its fruits. An angiosperm produces flowers that carry fruits and reproductive organs.
These plants are thought to be more adaptive as compared to the land-based ecosystem. They are also found extensively on our earth. There are about 250000 species of angiosperm that have been recognized in this category.
Some of the examples of these plants include fruit trees such as Mango, Banana, Apple, Cherry, Peach, Pear, Orange, and more. Plants that come under the nightshade family such as Petunias, Tomato, Eggplant, and Peppers, and the ones in grass family like corn, wheat, sugarcane, and rice are categorized as Angiosperm.
Gymnosperms
Gymnosperm is also a kind of plant that has seeds present right on the sporophylls in a naked state. This implies that the seeds do not have any covering on them or are not coated in the carpel. There are very few species of this plant. Some of the examples of the plant include cypress, pine, Gnetum, redwood, spruce, cycads, ginkgo, fir, Welwitschia, and juniper.
The major reason behind fewer species of Gymnosperm is due to the very less or nil protection of seeds. This is because the seeds are not efficiently covered by any coating when they get released from the plant.
Their unprotected nature is the reason behind their less availability. These seeds require to go into the ground fast to take protection of the roots so as to avoid getting damaged by weather conditions or animals.
Both angiosperms, as well as gymnosperms, have seeds in them. They have got a natural ability to form seeds that are enclosed by nutritive tissue. These seeds are coated with a coating. Gymnosperm was present around two hundred million years prior to the occurrence of angiosperm plants.
Several million years back, gymnosperms were formed. At that time, they were the only type of plant life present on the planet Earth. Around 200 to 250 million years back, the angiosperms began to grow. Now, it has been seen that angiosperms are widely spread and populous. They are considered to be the most dominant plant-based life present on the Earth.
Angiosperms are comprised of diverse varieties of plants approx. 240,000 to 450,000 species. They occupy every type of aquatic and land environment except extreme habitats. An angiosperm can be either monocots or dicots. Gymnosperms, as well as angiosperms, are regarded as vascular plants. They both have got a sporophyte dominant lifecycle.
Gymnosperms are present in desert and semi-desert areas. Examples of it are monocots such as lilies, agaves, grasses, orchids and peas, roses, oaks, maples, and sunflowers.
Differences between an Angiosperm and a Gymnosperm
Angiosperms and Gymnosperms differ from each other on various levels. Angiosperms are also known as flowering plants. They have got seeds in them that are surrounded inside the ovary. It is usually a fruit whereas, in the case of gymnosperms, they have no fruits or flowers.
Gymnosperms are either “naked” seeds or unenclosed on the outer surface of leaves or scales. The seeds of Gymnosperm are mostly organized in the form of cones. The major characteristic feature of a gymnosperm that distinguishes an angiosperm from a gymnosperm is that it comprises fruits, endosperm present in the seeds, and flowers.
Another important difference between an angiosperm and a gymnosperm is the “diversity”. Studies performed on both of the plant groups confirm that the diversity of an angiosperm is more as compared to that of a gymnosperm. The greater diversity shows that angiosperms are quite adaptive in nature as compared to terrestrial ecosystems.
Another distinctive feature of an angiosperm is the flower that it contains and the manner in which the fruit is produced in them. In the case of a gymnosperm, seeds are not contained within the fruit.
In the case of Angiosperm, seeds are formed by the flowering plants. They are properly enclosed inside the ovary. In the case of gymnosperm, its seeds are formed by non-flowering species of plants. They are naked and unenclosed.
When the lifecycle of both these plants is seen, then it is found that in the case of angiosperm, its lifecycle is seasonal whereas the lifecycle of gymnosperm plants is evergreen.
Angiosperm has got triploid tissue, whereas gymnosperm has got haploid tissue.
Looking at the shape of leaves, an angiosperm plant has flat-shaped leaves. In the case of gymnosperm, the leaves are either in needle shape or scale scape.
An angiosperm is a type of hardwood whereas Gymnosperm is a plant of the type of softwood.
Pollination also called reproduction in an angiosperm plant depends completely on animals whereas the reproduction of gymnosperm plants depends on the wind.
As far as the reproductive or fertilization systems of these plants are concerned, an angiosperm has got a unisexual or bisexual reproductive system. It is present in the flowers. In case of a gymnosperm, the reproductive system is unisexual and it is present in its cones.
In the case of gymnosperms, vessels are not seen in the xylem except in gnetales. In case of angiosperms, you can see vessels located in the xylem.
In a gymnosperm plant, phloem does not have any companion cells, whereas, in the case of an angiosperm, you will see the presence of several companion cells.
In the case of angiosperms, flowers have corolla and calyx and the process of pollination is both unisexual and bisexual. In gymnosperm, after fertilization pollen grains sit directly on the ovule.
In the case of angiosperms, you will find that ovules contained in them are efficiently coated in carpel and enclosed in a casing called the ovary. Pollen grains land on the stigma post-pollination. Here the pollination happens by different means like insects, water, wind, and animals which is not the case in a gymnosperm. Here, the pollination only happens through the wind. Flowers in angiosperm mostly comprise of both female as well as male gametes within them. After reproduction, the ovules take the form of a fruit. In the case of gymnosperm, gametes are present in the cones.
Cones have the same usual brown colored appearance in gymnosperms. This is not the case in angiosperm where the cone has an irregular occurrence.
In case of a gymnosperm, you can see archegonia but in angiosperms, it is absent.
Double fertilization takes place in angiosperms.
In gymnosperm, an endosperm is a kind of a haploid tissue whereas in case of an angiosperm, it is usually triploid.
The process of fruit formation is totally absent in a gymnosperm. These plants do not have fruits in them whereas an angiosperm is a fruit-bearing plant.
An angiosperm plant is mainly used for the purposes such as medications, clothing, food, etc. In case of gymnosperm, it is mainly used for the purpose of lumber, paper, etc.
Formation of tissues in an angiosperm goes beyond the complexity and amount present in a gymnosperm. Because of several varieties of flowers and fruits, they have got multicolored shapes and colours of flowers, leaves, and fruits.
Angiosperms offer all types of plant-based food and most of the livestock feed. Fruit, grains, nightshades vegetables like tomatoes and potatoes, legumes, cabbages and gourds are angiosperms. Other types of angiosperms include flax and cotton that provide raw materials for textiles and paper. The hardwood of an angiosperm is also used in making hardwood floorings.
FAQs on Difference between Angiosperm and Gymnosperm
1. What is the main difference between Angiosperms and Gymnosperms?
The main difference lies in how they bear their seeds. Angiosperms are flowering plants that produce seeds enclosed within a protective ovary, which typically develops into a fruit. In contrast, Gymnosperms are non-flowering plants that have “naked seeds,” meaning their seeds are not enclosed within an ovary and are usually exposed on the surface of scales or leaves, often forming a cone.
2. Can you list five major differences between Angiosperms and Gymnosperms?
Yes, here are five major differences between Angiosperms and Gymnosperms:
- Seeds: Angiosperm seeds are enclosed within a fruit, while Gymnosperm seeds are naked and exposed.
- Flowers: Angiosperms produce flowers, which contain their reproductive organs. Gymnosperms do not produce true flowers.
- Pollination: Angiosperms are often pollinated by animals, insects, and wind. Gymnosperms rely almost exclusively on wind for pollination.
- Tissue Type: The endosperm (nutritive tissue) in Angiosperms is triploid (3n), formed after double fertilization. In Gymnosperms, it is haploid (n) and forms before fertilization.
- Plant Type: Angiosperms include most hardwood trees, shrubs, and herbs. Gymnosperms are typically softwood trees and shrubs.
3. What are the key characteristics of Angiosperms?
Angiosperms, or flowering plants, have several distinct features:
- They produce flowers, which are specialised reproductive structures.
- Their ovules are enclosed within a carpel (ovary), which ripens into a fruit for seed protection and dispersal.
- They exhibit double fertilization, leading to the formation of a diploid zygote and a triploid endosperm.
- Their vascular tissues are more complex, with vessels in the xylem and companion cells in the phloem.
- They can be classified into monocots and dicots.
4. What are the key characteristics of Gymnosperms?
Gymnosperms are characterised by the following features:
- They do not produce flowers or fruits.
- Their seeds are “naked”, meaning they are not enclosed inside an ovary.
- Reproductive structures are typically organised into cones (strobili).
- Pollination is primarily carried out by wind.
- Most gymnosperms are evergreen, woody perennials with needle-like or scale-like leaves.
- They lack vessels in their xylem (except in Gnetales) and companion cells in their phloem.
5. Why are Angiosperms considered more evolutionarily advanced and widespread than Gymnosperms?
Angiosperms are considered more evolutionarily advanced due to several key adaptations that have allowed them to dominate most terrestrial ecosystems. The presence of flowers allows for targeted pollination by animals and insects, which is more efficient than the random wind pollination of gymnosperms. Furthermore, the development of the fruit provides superior protection for the embryo and offers diverse mechanisms for seed dispersal, enabling them to colonise new habitats more effectively. These features, combined with a faster life cycle, have given angiosperms a significant competitive advantage.
6. How does the process of reproduction differ between Angiosperms and Gymnosperms?
The reproductive process differs significantly. In Angiosperms, pollination involves the transfer of pollen to a stigma, often aided by animals or insects. This is followed by a unique process called double fertilization, where one male gamete fuses with the egg to form the zygote, and the other fuses with the central cell to form the triploid endosperm. In Gymnosperms, pollen is carried by the wind directly to the ovule. They undergo single fertilization, where only the zygote is formed, and the nutritive tissue (endosperm) is haploid and develops before fertilization.
7. What are some common examples of Angiosperms and Gymnosperms?
Common examples help illustrate the difference:
- Angiosperms: This is the largest group of plants and includes most familiar species such as fruit trees (mango, apple), grains (rice, wheat), vegetables (tomato, potato), and flowers (rose, lily).
- Gymnosperms: This group is smaller and includes plants like pine trees, firs, spruces, cycads, and ginkgo trees.
8. In terms of economic importance, how do Angiosperms and Gymnosperms compare?
Both groups are economically vital, but for different purposes. Angiosperms are the primary source of human food, including all grains, fruits, and vegetables. They also provide materials for clothing (cotton, flax) and hardwood for furniture and construction. Gymnosperms are a major source of softwood timber used for paper production, lumber, and construction materials. They also produce resins and other industrial chemicals.
