The key difference between Anthophyta and Coniferophyta is that Anthophyta is a group of plants that produce flowers and bear seeds inside the fruits while Coniferophyta is a group of plants that do not produce flowers and bear naked seeds.
Anthophyta and Coniferophyta are two major groups of seed plants. Both are vascular plants. Anthophyta is also known as angiosperms, and they are flowering plants. Anthophyta bear seeds enclosed inside a fruit. Coniferophyta, on the other hand, is a group of gymnosperms which bear naked seeds. They do not produce flowers or fruits. They are cone-bearing seed plants. Both Anthophyta and Coniferophyta are terrestrial plants.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Anthophyta
3. What is Coniferophyta
4. Similarities Between Anthophyta and Coniferophyta
5. Side by Side Comparison – Anthophyta vs Coniferophyta in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What is Anthophyta?
Anthophyta or angiosperms are the largest groups of plants belonging to kingdom Plantae. They are seed plants. They produce a characteristic flower. Flowers are the reproductive structure of Anthophyta. They are vascular plants. Anthophyta includes the most advanced group of plants growing in a wide range of habitats. There are two major groups of Anthophyta as monocots and dicots. Monocot plants have a single seed leaf or cotyledon. Dicot plants have two cotyledons or seed leaves.
Figure 01: Anthophyta
During fertilization, angiosperms undergo double fertilization, which is a unique character. Moreover, there are two integuments surrounding the ovules of angiosperms. Besides, Anthophyta plants have sieve tubes and companion cells in the phloem and vessel elements in the xylem.
What is Coniferophyta?
Coniferophyta or Pinophyta is the largest subgroup of gymnosperms. They are cone-bearing plants. Moreover, they are woody plants, and most are trees. They do not produce flowers but produce seeds. Their seeds are naked and not covered inside a fruit. This group includes only one class named Pinopsida. Taxales and Pinales are the two orders of Pinopsida. There are seven families of conifers.
Figure 02: Coniferophyta
The leaves of conifers are arranged spirally, and they are needle-shaped and evergreen. Conifers are more abundant in cool temperate and boreal regions. Conifers are heterosporous, and they produce two types of spores as microspores (male) and megaspores (female). These spores develop in separate male and female cones. Conifers lack vessel elements in their xylems. Conifers are economically important plants. They show a great economic value for timber and paper production. Moreover, they are important ornamentals.
What are the Similarities Between Anthophyta and Coniferophyta?
- Anthophyta and Coniferophyta are two major groups of vascular plants.
- They produce seeds; hence they are known as seed plants.
- These plants are terrestrial.
- Moreover, they are heterosporous.
- Sporophytic generation is dominant in both types.
- Gametophytes are dependent on sporophytes.
- External water is not necessary for fertilization.
What is the Difference Between Anthophyta and Coniferophyta?
Anthophyta is a group of plants that produce flowers and seeds enclosed in a fruit. Coniferophyta is a group of gymnosperms that produce naked seeds. Thus, this is the key difference between Anthophyta and Coniferophyta. Moreover, Coniferophyta includes cone-bearing plants, while Anthophyta plants do not produce cones. So, this is another significant difference between Anthophyta and Coniferophyta.
Below infographic lists more differences between Anthophyta and Coniferophyta in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Anthophyta vs Coniferophyta
Anthophyta and Coniferophyta are two groups of seed plants. Anthophyta is the largest group of plants, which are flowering plants. They produce a flower and fruits. Their seeds are enclosed in a fruit. Coniferophyta, on the other hand, is the largest group of gymnosperms. They are cone-bearing plants. They do not produce flowers. Their seeds are naked. Conifers are economically important as ornamentals and in timber and paper production. Thus, this summarizes the difference between Anthophyta and Coniferophyta.
Reference:
1. “Conifer.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., Available here.
2. “Flowering Plant.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Jan. 2021, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Flower poster 2” By Alvesgaspar – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Abies lasiocarpa 5922” By Walter Siegmund (talk) – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia