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How do ferns reproduce with spores instead of seeds?
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Reproduction
Fungi produce billions of spores that give rise to new generations of fungi.
Ferns reproduce through a process called alternation of generations, which involves two distinct life stages: the dominant sporophyte and the gametophyte.12
Unlike seed plants, which protect their embryos within a seed, ferns rely on single-celled spores for dispersal.42
The Reproductive Cycle
- Spore Production: Mature fern sporophytes produce spores within specialized structures called sporangia, which are often clustered into groups known as sori on the undersides of their leaves.13
- Germination: Once released and carried by the wind, a spore that lands in a suitable environment germinates to form a tiny, independent sexual plant called a prothallium (gametophyte).12
- Fertilization: The prothallium produces male (antheridia) and female (archegonia) sex organs. Sperm must swim through water to reach and fertilize the egg.32
- New Sporophyte: The resulting zygote develops into a new, independent sporophyte, eventually causing the small prothallium to wither and die.13