Question

why gymnosperms lack vessels in their xylem?

Answer 1

What are gymnosperms? Which ones have vessel elements?

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Gill Matthews, degree in plant biochemistry and soil science

Answered Apr 4, 2016 · Author has 2k answers and 843.8k answer views

gymnosperms are one of the two main divisions of the spermatophyte family that is seed bearing plants. They differ from angiosperms, the other main group in the spermatophyte family in that they do not produce flowers and seeds in ovaries but instead have female cones with ova that do not have a container. The male pollen is produced by other smaller cones. They are always wind pollinated unlike angiosperms which are much more diverse.

Both angiosperms and gymnosperms have vascular systems consisting of xylem and phloem. The difference between them is that the vascular system is slightly less complex in gymnosperms than it is in angiosperms. for example the phloem of angiosperms have companion cells which assist in active transport whereas the gymnosperms do not.The xylem gymnosperms consist of tracheids which are elongated cells with a thick lignified cell wall whereas angiosperms additionally have vessels which consist of  a column of cells which are joined end to end  by perforation plates instead of cell walls so that they form one long continuous tube. 

Answer 2

Lack of vessels in gymnosperms

Explanation:

• Gymnosperms are seed bearing, non blossoming plants, Vascular packs are available however xylem needs vessels and phloem needs partner cells. Vessels component is for the most part found in xylem and is commonly found in blossoming plants (angiosperm) and are missing in softwood plants, for example, conifers (gymnosperm) as these plants don't create blossoms.
• Since the blooming plants requires more stock of water for their development, these vessel components assumes significant job there as these components structure an effective framework for moving water from the roots to the leaves and afterward different pieces of the plants.