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Which four living plant divisions are classified as gymnosperms?
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Gymnosperm
Pine cone and exposed seeds of the pinyon pine (Pinus edulis). Pinyon pines are gymnosperms and bear their edible seeds, known as pine nuts, in protective cones instead of fruit.
The four living divisions of gymnosperms are classified as follows:
- Cycadophyta: Often referred to as cycads, these are ancient, palmlike plants that typically feature pinnately compound leaves and produce seeds in cones.123
- Ginkgophyta: This division is represented today by a single surviving species, Ginkgo biloba, which is known for its distinctive fan-shaped leaves.124
- Gnetophyta: A group comprising three unusual genera—Ephedra, Gnetum, and Welwitschia—that differ from other gymnosperms by possessing vessel elements in their xylem.125
- Pinophyta: Commonly known as conifers, this division includes woody plants such as pines, firs, and spruces that typically bear needle-shaped or scalelike leaves and seeds on woody cones.126