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Life Cycle of a Fern
| Life
Cycle of a Fern |
| Ferns,
unlike some other plants, do not flower in order to propagate.
Instead, they reproduce sexually from spores. The life cycle
of a fern is very different from the life cycle of many other
plants. While many plants grow a mature adult form straight
out of the seed, ferns have an intermediate stage, called a
gametophyte, which then grows into a mature fern. |
There
are two distinct stages in the life cycle of ferns. The first
stage is that of the gametophyte. Spores are produced on the
underside of mature plants. These will germinate and grow
into small, heart-shaped plants called gametophytes. The gametophytes
produce both sperm and egg cells, and will fertilize itself,
or others. Once the fertilization occurs, the adult fern will
begin growing.
The
second stage in the life cycle of a fern is the adult stage.
The fertilized gametophytes begin to look like a mossy growth.
After some time, young fronds will appear, rising out of the
moss. If direct sunlight falls onto the young fronds for an
extended period of time, the plant may die easily. This is
because the tiny stems are not strong enough to sustain direct
light and will dry out.
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| Once
these tiny fronds grow larger, the plant has a better chance
of survival. When the veins are matured, moisture from the
ground will be transported easily to the outermost leaves
and the plant can withstand periods of direct sunlight. After
the plant is large and mature, it will grow spores on the
undersides of its leaves and the life cycle of a fern will
begin again.
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