Question

In addition to seeds, which of the following characteristics is unique to the seed-producing plants?

A) Flowers
B) Vascular tissue
C) Leaves
D) Cones

Answer 1

The unique characteristic to seed-producing plants, in comparison to seedless vascular plants, is the production of seeds in cones, which is specific to gymnosperms.

Step-by-step explanation:

In addition to seeds, the characteristic that is unique to seed-producing plants, as opposed to seedless vascular plants, is D) Cones.

Seedless vascular plants, such as ferns, have vascular tissue, leaves, and sometimes structures called strobili, but they do not produce seeds. Gymnosperms, a group of seed plants, produce seeds in cones. While flowers are certainly a characteristic of angiosperms (another group of seed plants), both gymnosperms and angiosperms are seed plants, and flowers are not unique to all seed-producing plants. Therefore, considering gymnosperms and angiosperms together, the unique characteristic would be the production of seeds in cones as seen in gymnosperms.