seed plants The group that comprises the gymnosperms and angiosperms, plants distinguished by their production of seeds rather than spores. They arose in the Devonian from pteridophyte forebears, probably of a heterosporous character (i.e. bearing microspores and megaspores (see SPORE) on the same plant). These early seed plants were gymnosperms. Angiosperms are not certainly represented in the fossil record until the early Cretaceous.

seed plants The group that comprises the gymnosperms and angiosperms, plants distinguished by their production of seeds rather than spores. They arose in the Devonian from pteridophyte forebears, probably of a heterosporous character. These early seed plants were gymnosperms. Angiosperms are not certainly represented in the fossil record until the early Cretaceous.