Why Do Cycads Have Flagellated Sperm?

Then a sperm cell of the pollen grain swims through the pollen tube

using its whip-like tail, or flagella, and fertilizes the egg to form a zygote. ... It is significant that the cycads have flagellated sperm cells, which is considered a primitive (i.e., ancient) characteristic.

What plants have flagellated sperm?

The only extant seed plants that have flagellated sperm are Ginkgo and Cycadales (Table 1, Figs.

How do cycads reproduce?

Cycads reproduce when mature by the production of cones. ... Specialised woody growths on the cones, called sporophylls, bear the sexual parts with those of the male cone producing pollen and on a female cone they bear large ovules which if fertilised develop into seeds.