Unit 3: Gymnosperms
(15Hrs)
General characteristics and affinities towards
Pteridophytes and Angiosperms, Classification
(upto family) and distribution. Morphology,
anatomy and reproduction of Cycas, Pinus,
Ginkgo, Ephedra and Gnetum (Developmental
details not to be included). Ecological and
economic importance of gymnosperms.
Similarities and Differences Between
Gymnosperms and Angiosperms
Similarities:
Both gymnosperms and angiosperms are seed-
producing vascular plants.
They both possess roots, stems, and leaves.
Both groups reproduce via pollen and ovules.
Gymnosperms and angiosperms are vital
components of ecosystems, offering shelter
and nourishment.
Differences:
Seed Protection: Gymnosperm seeds are exposed,
whereas angiosperm seeds are enclosed within a fruit.
Reproductive Structures: Gymnosperms reproduce
using cones, while angiosperms use flowers.
Pollination Mechanism: Gymnosperms typically rely
on wind pollination, whereas angiosperms often utilize
insects, animals, and wind.
Diversity: Gymnosperms are less diverse, with around
1,000 species, while angiosperms boast over 300,000
species.
General characters
The term gymnosperm is derived from the two greek words, gymnos –
means naked, sperma – means seed.
Gymnosperm: “Naked seed plants (Phanerogams).
Unlike Angiosperm, in Gymnosperm the seeds are not enclosed in
fruit. Hence, they are first land plants to have seeds.
was introduced by Theophrastus in 300 BC to describe plants with
unprotected seeds.
Examples of some Gymnosperms – Cycas, Pinus, Gnetum,
Ginkgo, Cedrus, Welwitschi, Podocarpus, Araucaria, etc.
Cycas Ginkgo Pinus
Fossil records indicate that the gymnosperms must have
evolved approximately 300 million years ago from non-seed
producing ancestors of the extinct division of
Progymnospermophyta which were fern like in appearance
(form a bridge between pteridophytes and angiosperms)
Gymnosperms were dominant plants over the earth’s surface
during the jurassic and cretaceous periods of mesozoic era.
At present about 83 genera and approximately 850-900 species
of living gymnosperms are distributed throughout temperate,
tropical and arctic regions of the world.
Morphological Characters
Plant body is sporophytic, differentiated into- root, stem
and leaves.
They usually show xerophytic characters.
Root shows symbiotic association with blue green
algae (e.g. coralloid root in Cycas), or fungi (mycorrhiza
in Pinus).
Algae inhabiting in coralloid root of Cycas helps in N2
fixation.
Mycorrhiza helps in absorption of nutrients(Phosphorus)
in plants.
The stem is generally erect, branched and woody.
However, it is unbranched in case of Cycas.
Presence of leaf scar is a characteristic feature of gymnosperm.
Leaves are generally dimorphic in nature.
a) Foliage leaves Scale leaves
#Green, simple # Small and deciduous
or
Needle shaped
or
Pinnately compound
Ex. Pinus
Cycas shows circinate venation (young leaves
curved inside).
Presence of circinate venation in Cycas is a
strong evidence for the pteridophytic origin
of Gymnosperm. Therefore, Cycas acts as a
connective link between Pteridophyta and
Gymnosperm.
Anatomical Characters
The leaves of gymnosperm have very thick cuticle and
sunken stomata, both indicating xerophytic character.
Gymnosperm possess well developed vascular system.
.
Xylem consists of tracheids and parenchyma
Vascular bundle is open and collateral
Phloem consists of tubes and phloem parenchyma.
Stem shows secondary growth.
The wood may be manoxylic (Cycas) and pycnoxylic
(Pinus).
Roots are diarch (two vascular bundles) to polyrach (many
vascular bundles)
General Characteristics….
Gymnosperms are a small group of seed plants which are
represented by only 900 living species.
Gymnosperms are more ancient than the angiosperms.
They formed dominant vegetation on earth some 200
million years back in mesozoic era. Today they are
dominant only in cold areas, where instead of rain; snow
is the source of water.
At other places they have been replaced by angiosperms.
In warmer areas only a handful of gymnosperms can be
observed, e.g., Cycas (like C. circinalis in South India),
Araucaria etc
All gymnosperms are perennial and woody, forming
either bushes or trees. Some of these are very large and
live for thousands of years,
Eg; Sequoia sempervirens (tallest gymnosperm of 111.6 m)
Zamia pygmia is smallest (26 cm).
Flowers are absent. Two types of sporophylls,
microsporophyll’s and megasporophylls are usually
aggregated to form distinct cones or strobili, pollen
cones (male cones) and seed cones (female cones)
respectively.
Seeds do not occur inside a fruit. They are naked.
Sequoia sempervirens (Coast Redwood) :
Endangered -Population decreasing
Tallest Gymnosperm
Zamia pygmia is smallest (26 cm)
Gymnosperm.
A distinction of ovary, style and stigma is absent.
Pollination is direct as a stigma is absent and the pollen
grains directly reach the micropylar ends of ovules.
Pollination is usually accomplished by wind
(anemophily).
Male gametophyte produces only two male gametes or
sperms. Generally one of them is functional.
Vascular tissues are arranged into vascular bundles just
like angiosperms. Vascular bundles of stem are open so
that secondary growth is quite common.
Pollination and Fertilization
All gymnosperms are wind pollinated
(Anemophily).
Microspores (Pollen grains) are liberated at various
stages of the male gametophyte.
Pollens deposited in wet pollen chamber.
Fertilization is siphonogamous (through pollen
tube).
The pollen tube function as sperm carrier.
Male gametes are non-motile except in Cycas and
Ginkgo.
(Cleavage
Reproduction in Gymnosperm
Gymnosperms are heterosporus (i.e. produce two
different spores).
Megasporangia are produced on megasporophyll.
Microsporangia are produced on microsporophyll.
Male cones in gymnosperms are short-lived; however
female cones persist for many years.
Microsporangia are found on the abaxial (lower
surface) of microsporophyll.
Embryo development is meroblastic (i.e. embryo develops
from some part of zygote).
Endosperm development takes place before fertilization.
Hence, endosperm is haploid in nature.
Polyembryony (development of many embryo) is very
common in Gymnosperms.
Polyembryony results from
a) Fertilization of more than one egg or
b) Division of zygote.
Affinities or Similarities of gymnosperms with
Pteridophytes:
Sporophytic, independent plant body is present in both the
groups. It is differentiated into root, stem and leaves.
Sporophyte possess a well-developed vascular tissue.
Young leaves show circinate vernation.
Presence of megaphyllous leaves.
Gymnosperm and few pteridophytes e.g. Selaginella are
heterosporous i.e. form micro- and megaspores in
micro- and megosperangia, borne on the micro and
megasporophylls respectively.
In Cycas, sporangia are grouped in sori like
pteridophytes.
The female sex organ is archegonium in both the
groups.
The male gametes of Cycas and Ginkgo are motile like
the pteridophytes.
Permanent retention of megaspore within the
megasporangium.
Gametophytes are endosporic and highly
reduced: Endosporic means that the
gametophytes develop inside the spore wall,
remaining enclosed within it.
This contrasts with exosporic gametophytes,
which grow outside the spore wall, as seen in
some primitive plant groups like ferns and
mosses.
Female prothallus develops before fertilization and
there is free nuclear division.
Development of distinct embryo after fertilization.
Like the pteridophytes, gymnosperms show marked
alternation of generation between gametophytic and
sporophytic phase. Sporophytic generation or sporphytic
phase is dominant, independent and large at maturity
while the gemetophtic generation exhibits progressive
reduction and dependence.
Gymnosperms affinities/ Similarities with Angiosperms:
Main plant body is sporophytic and is differentiated into root,
stem and leaves.
Plants are trees or shrubs and may be erect or climbing.
Root system is well developed and the roots may be diarch,
triarch, tetrach or polyarch. (number of vascular
strands present in the root's vascular cylinder).
The xylem is exarch in the roots; Exarch xylem is the
arrangement in which the protoxylem (the first formed primary
xylem cells) is directed towards the periphery and metaxylem
(later formed primary xylem cells) is directed towards the centre.
Stem is eustelic- In a eustelic arrangement, the vascular
system in the stem has discrete vascular
bundles arranged in a circular pattern around a central
pith.
It allows for secondary growth (e.g., formation of wood
and bark in trees)
Wood may be monoxylic (Soft& Thin) or polyxylic
(Hard & Thick).
Heterosporous and have reduced gametophytes.
Nucellus (Central part of ovule) is surrounded by integument to
form a structure called ovule.
Like gymnosperms many angiosperms are wind pollinated.
Megaspore permanently remains inside the megasporangium
and develops into female gametophyte.
Pollen grains grow into pollen tube.
Male gametes are non-motile in majority of gymnosperms and
angiosperms.
Fertilization is siphonogamous; It is a mode of
fertilization in which the male gametes (sperms) are
delivered to the egg through a pollen tube.
Suspensor is formed during development of embryo-
The suspensor is a temporary structure that develops
from the zygote during the early stages of embryo
development. It facilitates the transfer of nutrients and
hormones to the developing embryo.
Formation of endosperm.
Formation of seeds from ovules.
As in gymnosperms, polyembryony is found in several
angiosperms- Polyembryony refers to the
phenomenon where more than one embryo develops
from a single fertilized ovule in plants.
Embryogeny is endoscopic-Inward growth/
development of the embryo.
Life cycle is similar in both groups.
Classification of Gymnosperm
•From time to time suggestions have been made for splitting the
Gymnosperm into a number of major groups taxonomically
equivalent one to another and to the angiosperms.
•Coulter and Chamberlain (1910) divided the gymnosperms into
seven orders. Some of the orders are quite extinct and not found in
present day.
1.Cycadofilicales- Extinct
2.Bennettitales- Extinct
3.Cycadales-Mesozoic to present day
4.Cordaitales- Extinct
5.Ginkgoales- Palaeozoic to present day
6.Coniferales- Palaeozoic to present day
7.Gnetales- Recent
•Classification of Gymnosperm by K.R.Sporne
(1965)
• The most recent system of classification for gymnosperms is proposed by Christenhusz et al. (2011).
•They divided the gymnosperms into four sub-classes: Cycadidae, Ginkgoidae, Gnetidae and
Pinidae.
Gymnosperm
4 classes
Cycadopsida Ginkgoopsida Gnetopsida Pinopsida
Christenhusz et al., (2011) proposed a new classification and linear sequence of the
living or existing gymnosperms based on molecular and morphological
phylogenetic studies.
They divided all existing gymnosperms into 4 sub classes, 8 orders and 12 families
as follows
