The Fern Cycle Here we have a fern frond.

When it is turned over you can see small circular dots on the leaves. These dots are called Sorus, they are pockets of Sporangia. Shapes like a circular shell they hold and provide the spores. When the Sporangium are ready to open they release the Spores into the air where they are transported to the ground with the help on the wind. Once the Spores have landed they start to grow into what is know as a Gametophyte. These Gametophyte anchor themselves to the soil with long thin parts called Rhizoids as they do not have roots or a stem. This is so when it rains the Gametophyte can absorb water. When the Gametophyte grow and mature their sex parts found underneath the Gametophyte are ready to come together. These two parts, the female also know as the Archegonium and the male, the Artheridium found visible under the Gametophyte. The Archegonium part is shaped like a tube to help the sperm swim to the egg located at the bottom of the tube like structure. As for the Artheridium the structure is shaped like a round pot to which holds all the sperm. Now when it rains and the water reaches the Gametophyte the sperm are set free, swimming through the water in order to get to find the egg. When the sperm have swam down the Archegonium tube and found the egg fertilization takes place and a zygote is produced. Forming a new fern plant and thus repeating the cycle.

Scarlett Freeman Mar 21, 2014 11:35 AM