Gymnosperms Gymnosperms Gymnosperms are plants with scale-like cones that contain the seeds. They have a well-developed alternation of generations. Gymnosperms produce two types of spores, microspores and megaspores.
Microspores occur in male cones and form male gametophytes.
Megaspores occur in female cones and form female gametophytes. This is a late successional-cliimax species. It usually replaces aspen and birch. The seedlings are very abundant in the under story because they are very shade-tolerant plants. However, balsam fir rarely take over an area because the adults are short lived.