Click here to see this section in relation to a live plant.

The consequence of heterospory is separate male and female gametophytes;-

Each megasporophyll bears a megasporangium which by meoisis produces 4 megaspores which in turn form
female gametophytes and female gametes.

Each microsporophyll bears a microsporangium which by meoisis produces many microspores which in turn
form male gametophytes and male gametes.

In Selaginella, gametophytes develop within the actual spores, a phenomenon termed

endospory;-

Each haploid microspore divides internally by mitosis to form ultimately an antheridium with 128 or 256
biflagellate sperm cells. These are released from the microspore wall and swim in surface water to
megaspores .

Microspore split exposing

sperm

Each haploid megaspore divides internally by free nuclear division to form a female gametophyte with
archegonia opening to the spore surface. Sperm cells swim down the necks of these to fertilize eggs and
produce the new diploid sporophyte generation. Click here to see this.

Cross section of megaspore

showing archegonia at exposed
top surface

Three features distinguish Selaginella from Lycopodium;-

Heterospory: Selaginella produces microspores and megaspores; Lycopodium is homosporous, producing only microspores.

Endospory: Selaginella microspores and megaspores develop their gametophytes within the actual walls of the spores; in Lycopodium
the gametophyte grows out of the spore.

Ligule: Each leaf in Selaginella (fertile and sterile) bears in its axil a tiny tongue-like structure called a ligule; these are not present in
Lycopodium.

You can check out more Selaginella images at the University of Wisconsin

Other fern allies