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The upcoming discussion will update you about the differences between Gymnosperms and Angiosperms.

Difference # Gymnosperms:

1. The sporophylls are aggregated to form cones.

2. Cones are generally unisexual, rarely bisexual.

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3. Cones do not possess perianth or sepals and petals.

4. Sporophyll bearing central axis is usually elongated.

5. Microsporophyll often contains a broad, sterile head. Distinction into anther and filament is absent.

6. Number of microsporangia per microsporophyll varies from 2 in Pinus to several  hundred in Cycas.

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7. Megasporophyll is commonly woody.

8. Megasporophyll is unrolled.

9. Stigma and style are absent.

10. Ovules are not borne on a placenta.

11. Ovules lie exposed on the megasporophyll.

12. Ovules are sessile.

13. An ovule is covered by a 3-layered massive integument having a wide micropyle.

14. The female gametophyte is large and parenchymatous.

15. The female gametophyte contains distinct archegonia.

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16. Pollination is direct, that is, pollen grains directly enter the ovule and come to lie over the nucellus.

17. Male gametophyte contains one or two prothalial cells, a tube cell, a stalk cell and a body cell which divides to form 2 male gametes.

18. Only one gamete is functional as there is only one type of fertilization or generative  fertilization.

19. Endosperm is a pre-fertilisation structure and     represents the food laden female  gametophyte.

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20. Seeds develop exposed on the megasporophyll. A fruit is never formed.

21. The embryo may contain one to several cotyledons.

Difference # Angiosperms:

1. The sporophylls are aggregated to produce flowers.

2. Flowers are generally bisexual, rarely unisexual.

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3. The flowers usually contain perianth or sepals and petals.

4. Sporophyll bearing thalamus is generally short.

5. Microsporophyll is represented by a stamen. A stamen consists of a terminal broad anther and a lower stalk or filament.

6. Number of microsporangia or pollen sacs per stamen is commonly four, rarely two.

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7. Megasporophyll is delicate.

8. Megasporophyll is rolled to form a carpel.

9. The two are present.

10. Ovules are attached to placenta.

11. Ovules occur covered inside the ovary part of the carpel.

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12. Ovules are borne on a stalk or funiculus.

13. An ovule is covered by one or two thin integuments having a narrow micro Pyle.

14. The female gametophyte is represented by seven-celled and 8- nucleate embryo sac.

15. Archegonia are absent.

16. Pollination brings the pollen grains on the special receptive surface of the megasporophyll called stigma.

17. Male gametophyte consists of a tube cell and a generative cell which divides to form two male gametes.

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18. There is double fertilisation, that is, both the male gametes are functional, one performing generative fertilisation and other vegetative fertilisation or triple fusion.

19. Endosperm is a post-fertilisation structure and represents a new triploid material.

20. Seeds develop inside the ovary part of the carpel which matures into a fruit.

21. The embryo contains one or two cotyledons.