Answer: gymnosperms.
- A gymnosperms
- B angiosperms
- C bryophytes
- D pteridophytes
Correct answer: A. gymnosperms
Explanation: Gymnosperms bear naked seeds (e.g. Pinus), not enclosed in fruits.
Plants evolved from water-dependent algae through increasingly land-adapted groups, gaining vascular tissue (Pteridophyta), then seeds (Gymnosperms), and finally fruit-enclosed seeds (Angiosperms) - each step reducing dependence on water for reproduction.
Concept context
Classification of plants from algae to angiosperms. Understanding plant diversity is essential for NEET.