In gymnosperms, the functional megaspore undergoes repeated mitotic divisions to form a multicellular structure known as the female gametophyte (also called the female prothallus). This tissue is formed before fertilization and serves a dual purpose:It acts as the endosperm, providing nutrition to the developing embryo.It bears the archegonia, which contain the female gametes (eggs).Since the endosperm in gymnosperms is the direct product of the megaspore's development and is haploid (n) in nature, it is technically the same tissue as the female gametophyte.

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