EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Gymnosperms are also called as ‘softwood spermatophytes’ because they lack thick-walled vessels rendering them softwood plants; because vessels impart strength to wood. Thus, option A is correct.

Detailed explanation-2: -Most gymnosperms lack vessel elements in their xylem, unlike flowering plants which have both vessels and tracheids. The vessel element is typically found in the Angiosperms (flowering plants) and it is absent in the Gymnosperms as these plants do not produce flowers.

Detailed explanation-3: -Gymnosperms are sometimes known as softwood spermatophytes’, due to their absence of thick-walled vessels, which makes them softwood.

Detailed explanation-4: -Solution : (d) Gymnosperms lack xylem fibres. Large amout of parechymatous cells are present with secondary xylem tracheids. So, these are also known as softwood spermatophytes.

Detailed explanation-5: -Xylem tissues are present in gymnosperms but lack xylem vessels as they do not produce flowers.