Angiosperms
Angiosperms, also known as flowering plants, represent a diverse and significant group within the plant kingdom, distinguished by their ability to produce flowers and fruits. Unlike gymnosperms, where ovules are naked, angiosperms enclose their seeds in fruit, which aids in their protection and dispersal. Their adaptability and variation in size—from the minute Wolffia to towering Eucalyptus—mirror their ecological significance across various habitats.
Angiosperms are divided into two principal classes:
- Dicotyledons: These plants typically have two seed leaves (cotyledons) and exhibit a variety of leaf forms and vascular arrangements.
- Monocotyledons: With a single cotyledon, these plants usually possess parallel leaf venation and fibrous root systems.
The section discusses the essential characteristics that define angiosperms, their roles in ecosystems such as food and oxygen production, and their importance in human life, such as providing food, fodder, medicines, and various other products.