What do gymnosperms and angiosperms have in common?

Gymnosperms and angiosperms share several fundamental characteristics, one of which is that both groups are involved in sexual reproduction. This process for both types of plants includes the production of male gametes (pollen) and female gametes (ovules), leading to the formation of seeds. In gymnosperms, seeds are typically naked and are often found in cones, while angiosperms produce seeds that are enclosed within fruits. The flowering plants (angiosperms) often have more complex reproductive structures, such as flowers, which facilitate pollination, but both groups rely on the same basic biological mechanisms for sexual reproduction, including the fusion of gametes.

Understanding this aspect of reproduction is essential in distinguishing how these two plant groups propagate and evolve, highlighting their evolutionary significance in the plant kingdom.