Sexual organs develop on the underside of the prothallium, and fertilization occurs. The individual spore is extremely small and germinates into a flat leaf-like body called a prothallium. The reproduction of ferns from spores is different from other plants because there is an in-between stem (asexual stage). Inexperienced gardeners often become concerned over these fruiting bodies and assume their plants are infested with unusual insects such as scales. The photograph in Figure 1 shows spore cases on the underside of the leaves (pinnae) of a holly-leaf fern. The case contains many individual spores and is usually found on the underside of a leaf (frond) or on separate stalks. Spores are born in a spore case (sporangia or sori) on fertile fronds (sporophylls). When fertilization of the female gametophyte occurs, small plants then begin to develop as shown. ![]() Each prothallium produces male and female organs (sexual or gametophyte stage). Spores dropped from the fronds of an established fern have developed prothallium on the gravel surface.
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