Gymnosperms

Plants perennial, branched or unbranched, monoecious or dioecious. Leaves pinnate or simple, sometimes reduced to scales. Microsporangia borne in separate cone-like structures derived from modified leaves (microsporophylls). Megasporangia borne in separate, simple cone-like structures derived from modified leaves or in compound cone-like structures comprising modified leaves (megasporophylls) derived from lateral branches.