Final answer:
The group that provides protection and nourishment to the embryo is the angiosperms only. Angiosperms have specialized structures such as endosperm and fruit which are uniquely developed for these functions, while other plant groups have different and less specialized means of embryonic care.
Step-by-step explanation:
The protection and nourishment of an embryo is a critical aspect of plant reproduction. In the question, which asks which group provides protection and nourishment to the embryo, the answer is angiosperms only. This is because angiosperms have structures such as the endosperm, which forms as a result of double fertilization and provides nutrients to the developing embryo. The seed itself also provides a protective casing. However, it's important to note that while all plants do provide some form of protection and nourishment to their embryos, only angiosperms have the specific adaptations like flowers and fruit, which enclose and protect the seeds, as well as the endosperm as a unique food storage tissue, making them exceptionally efficient at this task.
In comparison, gymnosperms provide nourishment through the female gametophyte rather than endosperm, and their seeds are not enclosed in fruits but often in cones. Bryophytes and lycophytes do not have seeds; hence, they cannot be the correct answer. Their embryos develop within the protective archegonia on the parent plant.