What type of plants produces seeds within a fruit, such as apples?

Plants that produce seeds within a fruit are classified as angiosperms. This group is characterized by the presence of flowers and the development of fruit that encases the seeds. The fruit serves not only to protect the seeds but also to aid in their dispersal, enabling angiosperms to thrive in a variety of environments.

Apples, along with many other familiar fruits, are examples commonly associated with angiosperms. This group encompasses the majority of plant species and displays a great deal of diversity in terms of size, shape, and ecological roles. The mechanisms of reproduction in angiosperms, involving both flowering and fruiting, are critical for their adaptation and survival.

In contrast, the other groups do not produce seeds within fruits. Cycadophyta, often referred to as cycads, produce seeds but do not form flowers or fruits. Sphenophyta, represented primarily by horsetails, and Gymnosperms, such as conifers, produce seeds openly without any enclosing fruit. Thus, angiosperms stand out for their unique reproductive structures, which is why the identification as angiosperms is the correct answer.