Lesson 5.3

Ferns

Characteristics of FernsVascularNon floweringSpore producing, no seedsSpores found in sori on the back of the leaf

Characteristics of FernsVascularNon floweringSpore producing, no seedsSpores found in sori on the back of the leaf

Spores are produced by sporangia located in the sori

Characteristics of FernsVascularNon floweringSpore producing, no seedsSpores found in sori on the back of the leafSpores are produced by sporangi located in the sori

Spore - A small, single-celled reproductive body that is highly resistant to dry and heat and is capable of growing into a new organism.

Characteristics of FernsVascularNon floweringSpore producing, no seedsSpores found in sori on the back of the leafSpores are produced by sporangi located in the sori

Have rhizomes orstems that growhorizontallyUnderground Asexual reprod.

petiole

Characteristics of FernsVascularNon floweringSpore producing, no seedsSpores found in sori on the back of the leafSpores are produced by sporangi located in the soriHave rhizomes or stems that grow horizontally underground

Fronds = mature leaves of a fern

Fiddle heads = rolled up immature leaves of a fern

Frond

Fiddlehead

Life Cycle of a Fern

Has alternating generationsor two generations.

A. Sporophyte generation• What normally think of

as a fern• Produces spores• Last 3 – 7 years

Life Cycle of a Fern

Life Cycle of a Fern

Has alternating generations or two generations.A. Sporophyte generation

B.Gametophyte generation Spore develops into

prothallum (heart shaped structure)

Life Cycle of a FernHas alternating generations or two generations.A. Sporophyte generationB.Gametophyte generation

Prothallum makes the female gamete (egg) in the archegonium and the male gamete (sperm) in the antheridium Gametes are released and fertilization occurs forms sporophytes Last 3 – 7 weeks

sporophyte

Gametophyte

Other spore producing plants include:

Club mosses and horsetails