Which one of the following is the characteristic feature of gymnosperms?

Gymnosperms are a major group of seed‑producing plants that include conifers, cycads, ginkgoes, and gnetophytes.

Unlike angiosperms (flowering plants), gymnosperms do not develop an enclosed ovary that becomes a fruit. Their seeds develop on the surface of scales or leaves, usually within cones, and are exposed to the environment without any surrounding fruit tissue. This condition is described as “naked seeds.”

Therefore, the characteristic feature that distinguishes gymnosperms is that their seeds are naked, i.e., not enclosed within a fruit.

The correct answer is: Seeds are naked.