Siemenkasveja

Siemenkasveja, scientifically known as Spermatophytes, represent a significant clade of plants that reproduce using seeds. This characteristic distinguishes them from other plant groups like ferns, mosses, and algae. Seeds provide a protected environment for the embryo and a store of nutrients, facilitating successful germination and establishment in diverse environments.

The group of seed plants is broadly divided into two main categories: gymnosperms and angiosperms. Gymnosperms, meaning "naked seeds," typically produce seeds that are not enclosed within a fruit. Examples include conifers like pines and firs, as well as cycads and ginkgoes. Angiosperms, or flowering plants, are characterized by their seeds being enclosed within an ovary, which develops into a fruit. This group is the most diverse and widespread of all plant lineages, encompassing a vast array of species from grasses and herbs to trees and shrubs.

The evolution of seeds was a crucial adaptation that allowed plants to colonize terrestrial habitats more effectively. It freed them from the dependence on water for reproduction that is characteristic of earlier plant groups. Seed plants are the dominant flora on Earth today, forming the basis of many ecosystems and providing essential resources for countless organisms, including humans. Their economic importance is immense, contributing to food production, timber, medicine, and various other industries.