Gymnosperm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gymnospermae |
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| White Spruce leaves (needles) | |
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Gymnospermae
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Pinophyta (or Coniferophyta) – Conifers |
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Gymnosperms are a special group of plants that produce seeds. Unlike flowering plants, their seeds are "naked." This means the seeds are not hidden inside a fruit or ovary. Instead, they are often found on the surface of scales, like those on a pine cone.
Gymnosperms include well-known trees like conifers (pines, firs, spruces). They also include cycads, the unique Ginkgo tree, and a group called Gnetales. Together with flowering plants, gymnosperms make up all the seed plants on Earth.
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What Are Gymnosperms?
Gymnosperms are a very old group of plants. Their name comes from Greek words meaning "naked seed." This is their main difference from flowering plants, which have seeds enclosed inside a fruit. For example, an apple tree has seeds inside the apple. A pine tree, a gymnosperm, has seeds on the scales of its cones.
These plants develop their seeds in different ways. Some, like conifers, grow their seeds on the surface of cone scales. Others, like the Ginkgo tree, have seeds at the end of short stalks.
Types of Gymnosperms
There are four main types of gymnosperms that are still alive today.
Conifers
The largest group of gymnosperms are the conifers. This group includes many familiar trees. Think of pines, cypresses, firs, and spruces. Conifers are known for their needle-like leaves and their woody cones. They are found all over the world, especially in colder climates.
Cycads
Cycads look a bit like palm trees or ferns. They have a stout trunk and a crown of large, stiff, evergreen leaves. Cycads are mostly found in tropical and subtropical regions. They are an ancient group of plants.
Ginkgo
The Ginkgo group has only one living species left: the Ginkgo biloba tree. This tree is famous for its unique fan-shaped leaves. It is often called a "living fossil" because it has been around for millions of years.
Gnetales
The Gnetales are a smaller and more unusual group. They include three types of plants: Gnetum, Ephedra, and Welwitschia. These plants have some features that are similar to flowering plants, which makes them very interesting to scientists.
Ancient Gymnosperms
Many types of gymnosperms lived long ago but are now extinct. Some of these ancient plants are called "seed ferns." They looked like ferns but reproduced with seeds. Another group was the "cycadeoids," which resembled cycads. Most of these older gymnosperm groups died out during the Cenozoic era, which began about 65 million years ago.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Encephalartos sclavoi cone, about 30 cm long
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Zamia integrifolia, a cycad native to Florida
See also
In Spanish: Gymnospermae para niños
