Unlike Cycas and Pinus and most other gymnosperms Gnetum shows the occurrence of vessel elements and the absence of archegonia. Archegonia are altogether absent in the female gametophyte and vessels occur in the xylem along with the tracheids in the secondary wood. Thus, Gnetum shows affinities with angiosperms. Besides, it resembles angiosperms in several other aspects like free nuclear divisions in the embryo sac, two cotyledonous embryo, etc.