Answer: Naked (not enclosed in fruit).
- A Covered by fruit
- B Naked (not enclosed in fruit)
- C Covered by a hard shell only
- D Enclosed in a pod
Correct answer: B. Naked (not enclosed in fruit)
Explanation: Gymnosperms have naked seeds not enclosed in a fruit. The name means 'naked seed' in Greek. Examples: Pinus, Cycas, Ginkgo.
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.