Important features of gymnosperms:

(a) The term gymnosperm refers to plants with naked seeds (gymnos – naked, sperma – seeds), i.e., the seeds of these plants are not enclosed in fruits.

(b) The plant-body ranges from medium to tall trees and shrubs. The giant redwood tree Sequoia is one of the tallest trees in the world.

(c) The root system consists of tap roots. The coralloid roots present in Cycas are associated with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria.

(d) The stem can be branched (as in Pinus and Cedrus) or un-branched (as in Cycas).

(e) The leaves can be simple (as in Pinus) or compound (pinnate in Cycas). The leaves are needle-like, with a thick cuticle and sunken stomata. These help in preventing water loss.

(f) Gymnosperms are heterosporous. They bear two kinds of spores – microspores and megaspores.