gymnospermy
/ˈdʒɪmnəˌspɜrmi/
noun
- The condition or characteristic of having seeds that are not enclosed in an ovary; the reproductive system of gymnosperms (plants like pines and firs).
- Many ancient plant groups relied on gymnospermy long before flowers evolved.
- The biology class studied gymnospermy to understand how pine trees reproduce.
- Gymnospermy is a key feature that distinguishes conifers from flowering plants.