JimLee222222
Gymnosperms
A more primitive group of seed-bearing plants than angiosperms, gymnosperms account for about 8% of the plants in our ecosystem. They first appeared 380,000 million years ago, and are distinguished by the unenclosed condition of their seeds, usually found on a scale of a cone, and their slow reproductive cycles. It can take up to 18 months for a gymnosperm sperm to get to an egg.
Despite their slow reproductive cycles, gymnosperms have evolved to adapt to living in the cold much better than angiosperm plants. It might be a necessity for gymnosperms to live through the winter because of their lengthy reproductive cycles or simply a genetic adaptation to living in cold environments. Most evergreens plants are gymnosperms.
A gymnosperm leaf typically has thicker cuticles, tightly packed tissue, reduced surface area and resistance to water. All of these traits are designed to retain water and moisture, so the plant can conduct photosynthesis in the winter time. Another interesting aspect in gymnosperm plants are the resin tubes that pump an anti-freeze type substance into the leaves when the temperature drops, and thus preventing them from freezing.
Gymnosperms
A more primitive group of seed-bearing plants than angiosperms, gymnosperms account for about 8% of the plants in our ecosystem. They first appeared 380,000 million years ago, and are distinguished by the unenclosed condition of their seeds, usually found on a scale of a cone, and their slow reproductive cycles. It can take up to 18 months for a gymnosperm sperm to get to an egg.
Despite their slow reproductive cycles, gymnosperms have evolved to adapt to living in the cold much better than angiosperm plants. It might be a necessity for gymnosperms to live through the winter because of their lengthy reproductive cycles or simply a genetic adaptation to living in cold environments. Most evergreens plants are gymnosperms.
A gymnosperm leaf typically has thicker cuticles, tightly packed tissue, reduced surface area and resistance to water. All of these traits are designed to retain water and moisture, so the plant can conduct photosynthesis in the winter time. Another interesting aspect in gymnosperm plants are the resin tubes that pump an anti-freeze type substance into the leaves when the temperature drops, and thus preventing them from freezing.