Fern Reproduction
Understanding the Process of Fern Reproduction
Ferns are a popular type of plant because of their beauty but also because the process for fern reproduction is usually easy so they can be grown and reproduced easily. Ferns come in a wide variety of species, making them the ideal plant choice for gardens, container plants (indoors and outdoors), and just placed sporadically around the yard to add interest.
Before we get into information about fern reproduction, we wanted to provide a brief summary of what type of plant constitutes a fern. This type of plant is a part of the Polypodiophyta family, which is comprised of virtually thousands of fern species. In addition, ferns are grown all over the world although they grow in abundance in tropical rainforests. Of all plants known to man, ferns and other family members such as the horsetail and club moss are the oldest known.
We also wanted to provide you with information as to the most common types of ferns grown but no matter the species fern reproduction is much the same for all of them. Favorite ferns of this family are characterized by triangle shaped fronds, which are divided multiple times into leaflets and small pinnules. A few of the species that are most popular include the Boston Fern found in a shipment of other fern species coming from Boston, the Tropical Sword Fern, Maidenhair Fern, often used to treat respiratory illnesses, and the Christmas Fern, which is dark green and resembles an evergreen.
However, when it comes to species best known for fern reproduction, the Walking Fern is known for being strong, hardy, and beautiful. Grown heavily in areas with limestone, the vegetative fern reproduction associated with this species includes new plantlet roots being produced at the top of the long fronds. Two species known for their fern reproduction include the Rattlesnake Fern and Adder’s Tongue Fern. With this, sporangia is produced but in spikes rather than sori.
The process of fern reproduction involves generations being alternated. Because this type of plant is a sporophyte, a plant capable of producing asexual spores, the spore-bearing sacs called sporangia are borne in clusters, which are called sori. The sori first appear as small brown streaks or dots located on the underside of the leaves. The sori works much the same way as a seed in that when the wind blows or if something were to brush up against the plant, the sori would drop to the ground, which then begins the process of fern reproduction.
One of the interesting things about fern reproduction is that of species known today, none has seeds. However, numerous fossils have been uncovered over the years that show older species of this plant were in fact seed-bearing. Because of that, experts believe that ferns were initially seed-bearing plants that over time, evolved into the ferns we know today that use sori for fern reproduction. Because this process is so simple, if you were to purchase one fern, upon maturity more ferns could be produced from the original plant.