On the underside of a fern frond are the sori. The sori are the site of spore production and release.

















When a spore lands in a suitable location it germinates and grows into a prothallus. The gametophyte generation has begun!

The prothallus contains archegonia (egg producer) and antheridia (sperm producer) The sperm from one prothallus must swim to the egg of another prothallus.

When fertilization occurs, a zygote forms and begins to grow into a new baby fern .(A). The sporophyte generation has begun!




















The baby fern develops fronds which unfurl from fiddle heads. The new fronds may now begin to form sori.