Question

Gymnosperms are also called soft wood spermatophytes, because they lack

• A. Cambium
• B. Phloem fibres
• C. Thick-walled tracheids
• D. Xylem fibres

Answer 1

The correct option is C Thick-walled tracheids

Gymnosperms are also known as soft wood because the walls of the tracheids are thin. Tracheids impart strength to the cells. It is an integral component of the xylem. The wood of gymnosperm is non-porous because it consists of lesser xylem fibres than angiosperms, the vessels are absent and it contains more tracheids than angiosperms. Due to the lesser number of vessels, and the high percentage of tracheids doesn't allow rapid conduction of water.

So, the correct answer is option C.