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Could the terms woody and herbaceous be used to describe other types of plants besides angiosperms?

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Final answer:

Yes, the terms 'woody' and 'herbaceous' can refer to the tissue type in the stems of other plant types besides angiosperms. They can be applied to gymnosperms, among others, which like angiosperms are seed-producing plants. However, gymnosperm seeds aren't enclosed by fleshy fruit.

Step-by-step explanation:

Yes, the terms woody and herbaceous can be used to describe other types of plants besides angiosperms. These terms indicate the type of tissue that makes up the stem of the plant. Woody plants, such as many gymnosperms including spruces, firs, pines, and other conifers, have tough, hard stems. Herbaceous plants, on the other hand, have softer, more flexible stems, which can be found in some gymnosperms like cycadophytes as well as few angiosperms.

Therefore, while the terms woody and herbaceous are often used to classify angiosperms, they are not exclusive to this group and can be used to describe other seed plants like gymnosperms. Gymnosperms, like angiosperms, are vascular plants with seeds, although unlike angiosperms, their seeds are not enclosed by a fleshy fruit.

It's worth noting, however, that the diversity of angiosperms is vast, comprising about 90 percent of all plant species, including both herbaceous and woody species. Meanwhile, among gymnosperms, most species are woody, including all the familiar conifers.

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