Fern and lycophyte life cycle
Trichomanes speciosum gametophyte
Ferns and lycophytes all reproduce by spores and have a vascular system. Their life cycle demonstrates ‘alternation of generations’. The ones most people are familiar with are diploid sporophytes.
Diploid sporophyte lifecycle:
- Spores are produced in spore capsules (sporangia), which are often clustered in sori.
- Spores disperse.
- When conditions are right spores germinate and develop into often inconspicuous haploid gametophytes.
- Sexual reproduction takes place on the gametophytes.
- The resulting diploid zygote develops as the sporophyte plant.