Ferns Spores

Fern Spores

Ferns reproduce by spores which develop in special spore cases on the underside of the leaves. Some species have specialised spore-bearing leaves that look quite different from the other fronds. The spores are scattered by the wind and a spore that falls in a moist place may grow into a tiny heart-shaped "prothallus" which is the sexual or gametophyte stage of the fern. [CH] {CB}