Presence of vessel elements: Most gymnosperms, including Cycas and Pinus, lack vessel elements in their xylem, relying solely on tracheids for water conduction. Gnetum is unique among gymnosperms for possessing vessel elements, a characteristic typical of angiosperms.Absence of archegonia: In most gymnosperms (like Cycas and Pinus), female gametes are produced within specialized structures called archegonia. In Gnetum, archegonia are absent, and some free nuclei within the female gametophyte function directly as eggs, similar to the simplified gametophyte structure of angiosperms.

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