Question

Both Gymnosperms and Angiosperms bear seeds, then why are they classified separately?

Answer 1

Gymnosperms are flowerless plants as naked seeds are found whereas angiosperms are plants with flowers. In addition, the difference or the basis of classification is on the presence of an ovary.

Complete answer: Both Gymnosperms and Angiosperms bear seeds, but they are classified separately due to the anatomy of the seed. The seeds of the Gymnosperms are naked, i.e., they do not have an outer covering of fruit surrounding them. But the seeds of Angiosperms have a seed that is enclosed within the fruit and is not naked.
-In the case of the Gymnosperms, their sporophylls are aggregated together to form the structure of a compact cone. However, the microsporophylls are broad. Moreover, they are not distinguished further into filaments and anthers. The megasporophylls also lack the female parts like ovary, stigma, and style. Due to this reason, the ovule is exposed. As there is no ovary present so after the fertilization process, the seeds produced are naked.
-On the other hand, in the case of Angiospermic plants the aggregated sporophylls form the perianth of the flower. The microsporophylls are the anthers and stamens having the pollen sacs. The megasporophyll is the ovary, style, and stigma. The ovary houses the ovules. After the fertilization occurs the ovary develops into the fruit and the ovule develops into the seed. Hence, the seed is protected inside an outer covering of the fruit. Thus, the Gymnosperms and Angiosperms are classified separately even though both bear seeds.

Note: Sporophylls are the special kind of leaves that bear sporangia or spores that help in the reproduction. In the case of Gymnosperms, the strobili denote a tight arrangement of the sporophylls on the central axis of a stalk. In the case of Angiosperms, the flower denotes the Sporophylls. Sporophylls contain the microsporophylls and the megasporophylls in the case of Heterosporous plants. The Microsporophylls bear the male reproductive organs and the Megasporophylls bear the female reproductive organs.