GYMNOSPERMIA, in Botany, (from γυμνος, "naked," and σπερμα, "seed;") the first order in Linnaeus's class of didynamia. It comprehends the plants of that class which have naked seeds. The seeds are constantly four in number, except in one genus, viz. phryma, which is monospermous. See BOTANY, p. 65, and 211.