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How are gymnosperm seeds different from angiosperm seeds?
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Plant
Grandidier's baobas (Adansonia grandidieri) in Madagascar.
The primary difference between gymnosperm and angiosperm seeds lies in their development and protection.
- Angiosperm seeds: These develop within the ovaries of flowers and are enclosed by a protective structure known as a fruit.123
- Gymnosperm seeds: Often referred to as "naked seeds," these are not enclosed in an ovary or fruit. They are typically formed in unisexual cones, known as strobili, where they remain exposed at the time of pollination.123
Additionally, the two groups differ in how they nourish the developing embryo. In angiosperms, a process called double fertilization results in the formation of endosperm, a specialized food-storage tissue that develops after fertilization. In contrast, the embryo of a gymnosperm is nourished by the somatic tissues of the female gametophyte, which develops into the food-storage tissue prior to fertilization. Furthermore, gymnosperm ovules enlarge before fertilization, whereas angiosperm ovules increase to mature seed size only after fertilization has occurred.45