The plant type characterized by having seeds within fruits is angiosperms. This class of plants is unique because their reproductive structures, the flowers, develop into fruits that encase the seeds. This adaptation often aids in seed protection and dispersal, as the fruit can attract animals that help spread the seeds away from the parent plant.
Angiosperms are the largest group of plants and include a vast array of flowering plants, which can range from small herbs to large trees. This group also plays a critical role in ecosystems, providing food and habitat for a wide variety of wildlife.
In contrast, gymnosperms, such as conifers, have seeds that are not enclosed in fruits; instead, the seeds are often found on the scales of cones. Ferns and mosses belong to groups of non-seed plants. Ferns reproduce using spores rather than seeds, while mosses are also spore-producing plants and lack true roots, stems, and leaves typically found in seed-producing plants. Thus, the defining feature of angiosperms having seeds within fruits distinguishes them clearly from the other types mentioned.