angiosperm

[ an-jee-uh-spurm ]

noun

, Botany.

1. a plant having its seeds enclosed in an ovary; a flowering plant.

angiosperm

/ ˈændʒɪəˌspɜːm /

noun

1. any seed-bearing plant of the phylum Angiospermophyta (division Angiospermae in traditional systems), in which the ovules are enclosed in an ovary, which develops into the fruit after fertilization; any flowering plant Compare gymnosperm

angiosperm

/ ăn′jē-ə-spûrm′ /

1. Any of a large group of plants that produce flowers. They develop seeds from ovules contained in ovaries, and the seeds are enclosed by fruits which develop from carpels. They are also distinguished by the process of double fertilization. The majority of angiosperms belong to two large classes: monocotyledons and eudicotyledons. The angiosperms are the largest phylum of living plants, existing in some 235,000 species. They range from small floating plants only one millimeter (0.04 inch) in length to towering trees that are over 100 meters (328 ft) tall.
2. Compare gymnosperm

Derived Forms

• ˌangioˈspermous, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of angiosperm¹

angio- + -sperm

Example Sentences

By integrating phylogenetic data and comparative analyses, the research team discovered that nectaries originated concurrently in ferns and angiosperms, but ferns experienced a significant lag in diversification compared to their flowering plant counterparts.

From Science Daily

This mechanism ensures the successful fertilization of angiosperms by facilitating the specific coupling between ovules and individual pollen tubes.

From Science Daily

About 150 million years ago, life on Earth began a complete revamp, thanks to the rapid rise of one giant group: the flowering plants, or angiosperms.

From Science Magazine

Flowering plants, more specifically known as angiosperms, are the most important group of plants on Earth today, dominating most of the terrestrial ecosystems and being indispensable for human survival.

From Science Daily

It may have helped them weather the dramatic shift in climate or it may have allowed them to compete better with the faster-growing angiosperm plants that flourished after the extinction, "or it could be both."

From Science Daily