Gymnosperms are also called softwood spermatophytes because they lack
- Cambium
- Thick-walled tracheids
- Phloem fibres
- Xylem fibres
Answer
(4) Xylem fibres
Solution
The wood (secondary xylem) of gymnosperms is made up mainly of tracheids and xylem parenchyma.
As per NCERT, gymnosperms lack vessels in their xylem; they also lack xylem fibres (thick-walled, lignified fibres that make the wood hard).
Their wood is soft (non-porous softwood), and they are called softwood spermatophytes.
Gymnosperms do have cambium and tracheids, and phloem fibres do not decide the hardness of wood.
Answer: (4)