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gymnosperm

(jim′nō spʉrm′, -nə-)

noun

any of a large division (Pinophyta) of seed plants having the ovules borne on open scales, usually in cones, and usually lacking true vessels in the woody tissue, including seed ferns, cycads, conifers, and the ginkgo

Origin: ModL gymnospermus < Gr gymnospermos: see gymno- & -sperm

Related Forms:

gymnospermous adjective
gymnospermy noun

See gymnosperm in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A plant, such as a cycad or conifer, whose seeds are not enclosed within an ovary.

Origin:

Origin: From New Latin Gymnospermae, class name

Origin: , from Greek gumnospermos

Origin: : gumnos, naked; see nog^w- in Indo-European roots

Origin: + sperma, seed; see sperm ¹

Related Forms:

gymˌno·sperˈmous adjective

gymˈno·sperˌmy noun

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