Biodisc photomicrograph In the LS of the cone of Selaginella

(left), you should be able to see that

there are two kinds of spores: -

microspores (small, many)

megaspores (large, few)

This is termed heterospory and

evolved several times in several
groups of land plants.

(Homospory is where there is only

one kind of spore. Except for a few
water ferns which are
heterosporous the ferns are
homosporous.)

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