Gymnosperms bear seeds but lack fruits because they lack

Options

A. cotyledon
B. embryo
C. ovary
D. ovule

Answer

To answer the question "Gymnosperms bear seeds but lack fruits because they lack...", we need to analyze the characteristics of gymnosperms and the structures involved in seed and fruit development.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Gymnosperms**:
- Gymnosperms are a group of seed-producing plants that include conifers, cycads, and ginkgoes. They are characterized by having seeds that are not enclosed in an ovary.

2. **Defining Fruits**:
- Fruits are mature ovaries that develop after fertilization in angiosperms (flowering plants). They typically enclose seeds and aid in their dispersal.

3. **Role of the Ovary**:
- In angiosperms, after fertilization, the ovary develops into a fruit. The ovary contains ovules, which develop into seeds after fertilization.

4. **Gymnosperms and Ovaries**:
- Gymnosperms do not have true ovaries. Instead, their ovules are exposed on the surface of cones or other reproductive structures. This means they cannot develop into fruits as there is no ovary to mature into a fruit.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Since gymnosperms lack ovaries, they cannot produce fruits. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is that gymnosperms bear seeds but lack fruits because they lack ovaries.

### Final Answer:
Gymnosperms bear seeds but lack fruits because they lack ovaries.

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