Gymnosperms and their Soft Wood

Gymnosperms are a group of seed-producing plants that include conifers, cycads, Ginkgo, and gnetophytes. One characteristic feature of gymnosperms is their soft wood, which lacks certain components found in the wood of angiosperms.

Lack of Cambium
- Gymnosperms lack a vascular cambium, which is responsible for secondary growth in plants. This cambium is responsible for the production of xylem and phloem, which contribute to the hardness of wood. Without this cambium layer, gymnosperms do not have the same capacity for secondary growth as angiosperms.

Phloem Fibers
- Another factor contributing to the soft wood of gymnosperms is the absence of fibers in their phloem tissue. Phloem fibers in angiosperms provide structural support and contribute to the hardness of wood. The lack of these fibers in gymnosperms results in softer wood.

Tracheids
- Unlike angiosperms, gymnosperms predominantly have tracheids as their primary water-conducting cells. Tracheids are elongated, tapering cells that lack perforations in their cell walls. While tracheids are efficient at water transport, they do not contribute to the hardness of wood in the same way as vessels found in angiosperms.

Xylem Fibers
- Gymnosperms also lack fibers in their xylem tissue, which are important for providing structural support and increasing the hardness of wood. The absence of these fibers in gymnosperms contributes to the overall softness of their wood.

In conclusion, the soft wood of gymnosperms can be attributed to the lack of components such as cambium, phloem fibers, and xylem fibers that are commonly found in angiosperms. These differences in wood structure contribute to the unique characteristics of gymnosperm wood.

Option c. Thick walled tracheids