Gymnosperms are referred to as "naked seeded plants".because

Options

A. they lack ovule
B. they lack ovaries
C. they have no seed coat
D. the embryo is unprotected.

Explanation

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Definition of Gymnosperms**: Begin by understanding what gymnosperms are. Gymnosperms are a group of seed-producing plants that include conifers, cycads, ginkgo, and gnetophytes.

2. **Characteristics of Gymnosperms**: Note that gymnosperms are characterized by their reproductive structures. Unlike angiosperms (flowering plants), gymnosperms do not produce flowers or fruits.

3. **Lack of Ovaries**: One of the key features of gymnosperms is that they lack ovaries. In flowering plants, the ovary is the part of the flower that develops into fruit and encloses the seeds. In gymnosperms, the reproductive structures (megasporophylls) do not fold to form a protective ovary.

4. **Exposed Seeds**: Because gymnosperms do not have ovaries, their seeds are not enclosed within a fruit. Instead, the seeds remain exposed on the surface of the megasporophylls (the structures that bear the ovules).

5. **Conclusion**: Due to the absence of an ovary and the exposure of seeds, gymnosperms are referred to as "naked seeded plants". This term highlights the fact that their seeds are not protected by any surrounding tissue, unlike those in angiosperms.

### Final Answer:
Gymnosperms are referred to as "naked seeded plants" because they lack ovaries, leading to seeds that are exposed on the surface of the megasporophylls.

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