General characteristics and variety of gymnosperms as seed plants.

Gymnosperms existed on our planet much earlier than flowering plants. Their main difference is that the seeds are formed without flowers, on special containers. Their fertilization takes place with the help of the wind. Today there is one department (conifers) and three genera of covered seeds (ginkgo, cycad and oppressive). Conifers are the most common of them. Ginkgo is a giant tree with broad leaves. And cycads resemble an ordinary palm tree with their leaves. The oppressive ones have been growing for centuries.