1. Lesson 5.3
Ferns

2. Characteristics of Ferns
Vascular
Non flowering
Spore producing, no seeds
Spores found in sori on
the back of the leaf

3. Characteristics of Ferns
Vascular
Non flowering
Spore producing, no seeds
Spores found in sori on
the back of the leaf
Spores are produced
by sporangia
located in the sori

4. Characteristics of Ferns
Vascular
Non flowering
Spore producing, no seeds
Spores found in sori on the back of the leaf
Spores 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.

5. Characteristics of Ferns
Vascular
Non flowering
Spore producing, no seeds
Spores found in sori on the back of the leaf
Spores are produced by sporangi located in the sori
Have rhizomes or
stems that grow
horizontally
Underground petiole
Asexual reprod.

6. Characteristics of Ferns
Vascular
Non flowering
Spore producing, no seeds
Spores found in sori on the back of the leaf
Spores are produced by sporangi located in the sori
Have rhizomes or stems that grow horizontally underground
Fronds = mature leaves of a
fern
Fiddle heads = rolled up
immature leaves of a fern

7. Fiddlehead
Frond

8. Life Cycle of a Fern
Has alternating generations
or two generations.
A. Sporophyte generation
• What normally think of as
a fern
• Produces spores
• Last 3 – 7 years

9. Life Cycle of a Fern

10. Life Cycle of a Fern
Has alternating generations or two generations.
A. Sporophyte generation
B. Gametophyte generation
Spore develops into
prothallum (heart shaped
structure)

11. Life Cycle of a Fern
Has alternating generations or two generations.
A. Sporophyte generation
B. 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

13. sporophyte
Gametophyte

15. Other spore producing plants include:
Club mosses and horsetails