Angiosperms and Gymnosperms: The English Terms for Flowering and Seed Plants

Angiosperms are flowering plants, while gymnosperms are seed plants. The term "angiosperm" comes from the Greek words "angeion" (vessel) and "sperma" (seed), referring to the fact that angiosperm seeds are enclosed within a fruit. Gymnosperms, on the other hand, have seeds that are not enclosed within a fruit, but are instead exposed on the surface of cones or other structures.