| gymnosperm | A seed plant with the ovules borne on the surface of a sporophyll. Compare: angiosperm. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| gymnospermae | An important division of the plant kingdom, being woody plants with alternation of generations, having the gametophyte retained on the sporophyte and seeds produced on the surface of the sporophylls and not enclosed in an ovary. (09 Oct 1997) |
| gymnospermous | <botany> Having naked seeds, or seeds not inclosed in a capsule or other vessel. Belonging to the class of plants consisting of gymnosperms. Origin: Gr. Gymnospermos; gymnos naked + sperma seed: cf. F. Gymnosperme. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| gymnosperms | Gymnosperms are a group of vascular plants whose seeds are not enclosed by a ripened ovary (fruit). Gymnosperms are distinguished from the other major group of seed plants, the angiosperms, whose seeds are surrounded by an ovary wall. The seeds of many gymnosperms (literally, "naked seed") are borne in cones and are not visible. Taxonomists now recognise four distinct divisions of extant gymnospermous plants (coniferophyta, cycadophyta, ginkgophyta, and gnetophyta). (12 Dec 1998) |