angiosperme

Angiosperms, or flowering plants, are the largest and most diverse group of land plants. They are seed plants whose ovules are enclosed within a fruit that develops from the ovary, distinguishing them from gymnosperms. They produce flowers, which house the organs of sexual reproduction and often attract animal pollinators. The life cycle is sporophyte-dominant; the male gametophyte is a pollen grain, and the female gametophyte is contained within an ovule. After pollination and fertilization, a diploid zygote forms and, via double fertilization, a triploid endosperm develops to nourish the embryo.

Classification recognizes three major lineages: monocots, eudicots (core dicots), and magnoliids, with more primitive groups forming the ANITA grade that includes Amborella, water lilies, and Austrobaileyales. Common anatomical features include xylem with vessel elements in many species and pollen with a single furrow or pore. Leaves typically show net-like venation in dicots and parallel venation in many monocots.

Ecology and evolution: angiosperms have diversified through interactions with animal pollinators and fruit dispersers, occupying nearly all terrestrial habitats. They provide a wide array of ecological functions and numerous economic resources, including staple crops, fruits, vegetables, timber, fibers, oils, medicines, and ornamentals.

Fossil evidence places the origin of flowering plants in the Early Cretaceous, with rapid diversification during the Cretaceous and Cenozoic. Today, angiosperms dominate most ecosystems and underpin many agricultural and cultural systems.