angiosperm
noun
an·gio·sperm
ˈan-jē-ə-ˌspərm
plural angiosperms
: any of a class (Angiospermae) of vascular plants that have male and female reproductive structures enclosed in a flower, that have seeds which arise from ovules contained in the ovaries, and that produce dry or fleshy fruits after double fertilization : flowering plant
Angiosperms … have their ovules consistently enclosed in a carpel, which prevents direct access of pollen to the ovules.—P. Barry Tomlinson
Perhaps such habitats even antedate the appearance of angiosperm plants, which first flourished on a large scale in the Cretaceous period …—Michael Goulding
compare gymnosperm
angiospermy
noun
Angiospermy is a key innovation in angiosperms. It does not occur in other plant groups. The ovules are completely enclosed in a carpel.
—Peter K. Endress and Anton Igersheim
Cite this Entry
“Angiosperm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/angiosperm. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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