The term “Gymnosperm” comes from two Greek words, “gymnos” meaning “naked” and “sperma” meaning “seed,” which is why they are called “Naked seeds.” Gymnosperms are plants that make seeds, but they do it differently than angiosperms. Instead of making seeds inside fruits, they create seeds that are exposed on scales, leaves, or at the ends of stalks, forming cone-like structures.
Gymnosperms are part of the plant kingdom called ‘Plantae’ and a subgroup called ‘Embryophyta.’ Fossils show that they first appeared around 390 million years ago during the Paleozoic era.
In simple terms, gymnosperms are plants where the seeds are not enclosed inside a protective fruit like angiosperms. The seeds are visible before and after fertilization and as they grow into seeds.
Gymnosperms can have either a single stem or multiple branches. They have thick coatings on their leaves, which are shaped like needles, and small openings called stomata that help reduce water loss. The gymnosperm family includes conifers, cycads, gnetophytes, and the species Ginkgo biloba.
Gymnosperm MCQ for NEET
Ques 1. An autotrophic, prokaryotic and nitrogen-fixing symbiont is present in
1. Cicer
2. Sequoia
3. Cycas
4. Pinus
Answer: Cycas
Ques 2. Though Cycas has an embryo with two cotyledons, it is not grouped under dicotyledonous plants as
1. ovules are naked
2. has megasporophyll
3. possesses compound leaves
4. resembles a palm tree
Answer: ovules are naked
Ques 3. Inverted omega-shaped organization of vascular bundles is seen in
1. cycas leaflet
2. cycas stem
3. cycas root
4. cycas rachis
Answer: cycas rachis
Ques 4. Tallest known gymnosperm is
1. Pinus
2. Ephedra
3. Sequoia
4. Ginkgo
Answer: Sequoia
Ques 5. Phanerogams without the ovaries are
1. angiosperms
2. pteridophytes
3. gymnosperms
4. all the above
Answer: gymnosperms
Ques 6. Flowers and cones are similar because
1. both are shiny and bright
2. both are responsible for attracting insects to pollinate
3. both assist seed dispersal
4. both are reproductive structures
Answer: both are reproductive structures
Ques 7. In gymnosperms, the ovules typically are
1. unitegmic and orthotropous
2. bitegmic and orthotropous
3. bitegmic and anatropous
4. unitegmic and anatropous
Answer: unitegmic and orthotropous
Ques 8. Pick the pair that is incorrectly matched
1. Cycas – coralloid roots
2. Abies – wood tar, wood gas
3. Sequoia – Redwood tree
4. Pinus – Mycorrhizal roots
Answer: Abies – wood tar, wood gas
Ques 9. ‘Saccus’ term is used for
1. Wings of pollen grains of Pinus
2. intine of pollen grains of Pinus
3. exine of pollen grains of Pinus
4. Wings of seeds of Pinus
Answer: Wings of pollen grains of Pinus
Ques 10. This serves as a connecting link between the angiosperms and gymnosperms
1. Gnetales
2. Ginkgoales
3. Coniferales
4. Cycadales
Answer: Gnetales
