Ferns

Giant Fernmore common ferns Ferns are classified in the phylum Pteridophyta and the term "pteridophyte" is generally used to describe all seedless vascular plants, or plants that have veins. The typical life cycle of a fern includes approximately five steps: haploid cells are produced by meiosis, the spore grows into a gamteophyte by mitosis, the gametophyte produces gametes, flagellate sperm fertilizes an egg, and that egg is now a diploid zygote. For the most part, Ferns consist of stems, leaves, and roots. There are over ten thousand different species of ferns and most of them are found in the tropics where tree ferns may grw as high as forty feet tall. In most temperate regions, on the other hand, the stems of ferns grow under ground and the leaves, also commonly known as fronds, grow up from the stems each spring. Generally, ferns are usually characterized by the triangular fronds that branch off into many leaflets and pinnules. Historically, ferns are the most primitive plants to have developed a vascular system, as well as some of the oldest plants on earth, dating back to approximately 450 million years ago and were the dominant part of the vegetation during the Carboniferous Period. They share the Alternation of Generations characteristic with a number of other plants where the ferns itself, being the sporophyte, produces asexual spores on the undersides of their leaves. fertilization then restores the diploid number and begins a new sporophyte generation. Ferns thrive best in open shaded areas, hence the reason they are abundant on tropical forest floors because they do not grow well in strong sunlight. Ferns can be subdivided into three groups: ones that shed their leaves in autumn, ones that shed their leaves below zero, and evergreen ferns, which do not shed their leaves. Ferns are generally simple to grow. They need a lot of light, but not necessarily bright light, and they can basically thrive in any soil as long as it has the proper nutrients. Ferns also come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes and they can also grow in many different types of environments. Historical Ferns

Fern Life Cycle