meaning of gymnospermae
1. plants having naked seeds not enclosed in an ovary; in some systems considered a class Gymnospermae and in others a division Gymnospermophyta; comprises three subdivisions or classes: Cycadophytina class Cycadopsida and Gnetophytina class Gnetopsida and Coniferophytina class Coniferopsida; in some classifications the Coniferophytina are divided into three groups: Pinophytina class Pinopsida and Ginkgophytina class Ginkgopsida and Taxophytina class Taxopsida