gymnosperms are soft-wooded as they lack

Options

A. cambium
B. phloem fibres
C. thick - walled tracheids.
D. xylem fibres.

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Gymnosperms**: Gymnosperms are a group of seed-producing plants that include conifers. They are characterized by their softwood structure.

2. **Types of Wood**: There are two main types of wood: softwood and hardwood. Softwood is typically associated with gymnosperms, while hardwood is associated with dicotyledons (dicots).

3. **Composition of Hardwood**: Hardwood contains vessels as the primary conducting elements and lacks tracheids. This is in contrast to softwood.

4. **Composition of Softwood**: Gymnosperms, which are softwood, lack vessels. Instead, they primarily contain tracheids, which are long, narrow cells that help in water conduction.

5. **Identifying the Correct Answer**: The question asks what gymnosperms lack that makes them softwood. The options provided are:
- Cambium
- Phloem fibers
- Thick-walled tracheids
- Xylem fibers

6. **Analyzing the Options**:
- **Cambium**: Gymnosperms do have cambium, so this option is incorrect.
- **Phloem fibers**: While gymnosperms may have phloem fibers, this does not define their softwood nature, making this option incorrect.
- **Thick-walled tracheids**: Gymnosperms do have tracheids, so this option is also incorrect.
- **Xylem fibers**: Gymnosperms lack xylem fibers, which contributes to their classification as softwood.

7. **Conclusion**: The correct answer is that gymnosperms are soft-wooded because they lack xylem fibers.

**Final Answer**: Gymnosperms are soft-wooded as they lack xylem fibers.

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