The SPERMATOPHYTES, also known as phanerogams comprise those plants that PRODUCE seeds, hence the alternative name seed plants. They are a subset of the embryophytes or land plants. The term phanerogams or PHANEROGAMAE is derived from the Greek, phanerós meaning "visible", in contrast to the cryptogamae from Greek kryptós = "hidden" together with the suffix, gameein, "to marry". These terms DISTINGUISHED those plants with hidden sexual organs (cryptogamae) from those with visible sexual organs (phanerogamae).

The spermatophytes, also known as phanerogams comprise those plants that produce seeds, hence the alternative name seed plants. They are a subset of the embryophytes or land plants. The term phanerogams or phanerogamae is derived from the Greek, phanerós meaning "visible", in contrast to the cryptogamae from Greek kryptós = "hidden" together with the suffix, gameein, "to marry". These terms distinguished those plants with hidden sexual organs (cryptogamae) from those with visible sexual organs (phanerogamae).