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angiosperm vs. gymnosperm

angiosperm vs. gymnosperm: What's the difference?

An angiosperm is a flowering plant, one whose seeds are enclosed in an ovary—the part that turns into a fruit. In contrast, the seeds of plants classified as gymnosperms are not contained inside of an ovary but are carried on the outside of different structures, such as the cones of conifer trees. The ending -sperm means “seed”; angio- means “container,” while gymno- means “bare” or “exposed.”

[ an-jee-uh-spurm ]
noun
  1. a plant having its seeds enclosed in an ovary; a flowering plant.
[ jim-nuh-spurm ]
noun
  1. a vascular plant having seeds that are not enclosed in an ovary; a conifer or cycad.

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