Select one of the following pairs of important features distinguishing Gnetum from Cycas and Pinus and showing affinities with angiosperms.
Perianth and two integuments
Embryo development and apical meristem
Absence of resin duct and leaf venation
Presence of vessel elements and absence of archegonia
D.
Presence of vessel elements and absence of archegonia
Unlike Cycas and Pinus, Gnetum shows the occurrence of vessel elements and the absence of archegonia. Archegonia are altogether absent in the female gametophyte and vessels occur in the xylem along with the tracheids in the secondary wood. Thus Gnetum shows affinities with angiosperms. Besides it resembles angiosperms in several other aspects like presence oftetrasporic embryo sac, free nuclear divisions in the embryo sac, two cotyledonous embryo etc.
