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How do angiosperms differ from gymnosperms in the placement of ovules?
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plant reproductive system
A large bumblebee (Bombus species) pollinating a teasel flower head (Dipsacus species).
The primary difference between angiosperms and gymnosperms regarding the placement of ovules lies in whether they are protected by reproductive structures.
- Angiosperms: The ovules are characteristically enclosed within an ovary, which later develops into a fruit. Because of this enclosure, the ovules are not directly exposed to the air at the time of pollination.12
- Gymnosperms: The ovules are "naked," meaning they are not enclosed in an ovary. Instead, they lie exposed on the surface of specialized, often leaflike structures called megasporophylls, which are frequently arranged in cones. Consequently, these ovules are exposed to the air during pollination.321