Can a single fern gametophyte produce both eggs and sperm?

Yes, a single fern gametophyte—often called a prothallus—can produce both eggs and sperm.12

In most fern species, the gametophyte is bisexual, meaning it develops both male sex organs, known as antheridia, and female sex organs, known as archegonia, typically on its undersurface.13

While many species are bisexual, reproductive strategies can vary:
* Timing: In many ferns, antheridia often develop before archegonia to facilitate fertilization.1
* Cross-fertilization: Some species, such as the bracken fern, utilize self-incompatibility factors to reduce self-fertilization, while others like Onoclea sensibilis may be unisexual early in development to encourage cross-fertilization before becoming bisexual later.1
* Exceptions: In some ferns, the sexes are separate, meaning a gametophyte will bear only male or only female organs. Additionally, some specialized hybrids or apomictic ferns may produce gametophytes that only form male organs or bypass sexual fusion entirely.24