Definition of class gymnospermae:
(n) :
plants having naked seeds not enclosed in an ovary; in some systems considered a class (gymnospermae) and in others a division (gymnospermophyta); comprises three subdivisions (or classes): cycadophytina (class cycadopsida) and gnetophytina (class gnetopsida) and coniferophytina (class coniferopsida); in some classifications the coniferophytina are divided into three groups: pinophytina (class pinopsida) and ginkgophytina (class ginkgopsida) and taxophytina (class taxopsida)