Biology 110
Gymnosperms and Angiosperms
Shared characteristics of gymnosperms and angiosperms enable them
to dominate the terrestrial landscape:
General life cycles of gymnosperms and angiosperms are similar -
details differ. Be able to describe the general life cycle and
identify the diploid and haploid stages.
Characteristics of gymnosperms:
- Naked seeds in cones (usually)
- Biggest group - conifers (wind-pollinated trees)
- Important forestry trees: Yellow pine in SE US, Douglas Fir in
west
- Tallest, most massive, oldest trees
Characteristics of Angiosperms:
- Seeds enclosed in fruits that develop from the ovary of
flowers.
- Fruits aid in dispersal of offspring.
- Flowers aid in the attraction of pollinating organisms.
- Evolutionary diversivication of angiosperms is related in time
to diversification of insects (125 million years ago).