Gymnospermophyta is a term used to describe a category of plants that produce seeds without enclosing them in a fruit or ovary. This group of plants includes conifers, cycads, and ginkgoes. Synonyms for this term could include gymnosperms, naked seed plants, or simply cone-bearing plants. These plants are typically evergreen and are often used in landscaping and for pulpwood and lumber production. Gymnosperms have been around for over 300 million years and have adapted to a variety of habitats, from cold boreal forests to arid deserts. While not as diverse as flowering plants, gymnosperms are important members of many ecosystems and play a significant role in the planet's carbon cycle.