All trees living today are either gymnosperm or angiosperm. The ending "sperm" means that both groups grow from seeds. The total number of angiosperm species is far greater than the total number of gymnosperm species.
Gymnosperms have seeds without a seed coat and are attached to the scales of cones. Gymnosperms have a disadvantage compared to angiosperms because once gymnosperm seeds fall or are blown out of their cones they only have a thin cover for protection. Many gymnosperms such as coniferous are adapted to thrive in environments with long cold winters and low amounts of nutrients in their soil. Gymnosperms dominate large parts of Canada, Northern Europe and Northern Asia. Gymnosperms are vital to Canada's economy because they provide fiber for making paper and wood.
Angiosperms are more diverse in structure and are widely spread around the world. Angiosperms are also known as flower plants because that is their reproductive organ which mature to seed-containing fruit. The fruit covering on the seed gives angiosperms an advantage over gymnosperms because they have better protection. The fruit of angiosperms are adapted to facilitate seed dispersal. Some seeds are tasty such as apples and other fruit that is consumed and the seeds disperse when the fruit is eaten. Some seeds are sticky such as burrs and gets dispersed in feathers or fur of animals. Other fruit is shaped for flight such as maple keys and disperse by the wind. Angiosperms include trees, grasses, vegetables, wildflowers and herbs.
Gymnosperms have seeds without a seed coat and are attached to the scales of cones. Gymnosperms have a disadvantage compared to angiosperms because once gymnosperm seeds fall or are blown out of their cones they only have a thin cover for protection. Many gymnosperms such as coniferous are adapted to thrive in environments with long cold winters and low amounts of nutrients in their soil. Gymnosperms dominate large parts of Canada, Northern Europe and Northern Asia. Gymnosperms are vital to Canada's economy because they provide fiber for making paper and wood.
Angiosperms are more diverse in structure and are widely spread around the world. Angiosperms are also known as flower plants because that is their reproductive organ which mature to seed-containing fruit. The fruit covering on the seed gives angiosperms an advantage over gymnosperms because they have better protection. The fruit of angiosperms are adapted to facilitate seed dispersal. Some seeds are tasty such as apples and other fruit that is consumed and the seeds disperse when the fruit is eaten. Some seeds are sticky such as burrs and gets dispersed in feathers or fur of animals. Other fruit is shaped for flight such as maple keys and disperse by the wind. Angiosperms include trees, grasses, vegetables, wildflowers and herbs.