Which type of plants is characterized by the presence of flowers?

The presence of flowers is a defining characteristic of angiosperms, which are often referred to as flowering plants. Angiosperms are unique in that they produce seeds enclosed within a fruit, and the flowers serve critical functions in reproduction, including the attraction of pollinators and the facilitation of fertilization.

Flowers of angiosperms can vary widely in structure and form, but they typically contain reproductive organs such as stamens (male) and carpels (female) that enable the process of pollination and seed development. This adaptation has allowed angiosperms to thrive in diverse environments and become the most numerous and varied group of plants on Earth.

In contrast, gymnosperms, such as conifers, produce seeds that are not enclosed in a fruit and do not have flowers. Pteridophytes, which include ferns, reproduce through spores and also lack flowers. Mosses, which are non-vascular plants, rely on spores for reproduction and do not produce flowers either. Therefore, when identifying plants characterized by the presence of flowers, angiosperms are unequivocally the correct answer.