Could Gymnosperms Develop Fruits and Flowers Like Angiosperms?

Here is the scenario: A Paleo/Mesozoic mass extinction wiped out 96% of all terrestrial species, and the only plants that survived were as follows:

• One genus of conifer
• One genus of cycad
• One genus of ginkgo
• One genus of seed fern

Once the ashes had cleared, the survivors found more than plenty of room to spread. So each group expanded into four basic forms--tree, shrub, vine and herb. The extinction event happened before the evolution of true angiosperms, so the question is: Could any of the gymnosperm groups independently evolve fruits and flowers like angiosperms?

posted over 5 years ago

JohnWDailey‭

6 reputation 224 0 1 0