Editing Fern (section)

=== Gametophyte ===

As in all [[vascular plant]]s, the sporophyte is the dominant phase or [[alternation of generations|generation in the life cycle]]. The [[gametophyte]]s of ferns, however, are very different from those of seed plants. They are free-living and resemble [[liverworts]], whereas those of seed plants develop within the spore wall and are dependent on the parent sporophyte for their nutrition. A fern gametophyte typically consists of:<ref name=":0" />

* [[Prothallus]]: A green, photosynthetic structure that is one cell thick, usually heart or kidney shaped, 3–10 mm long and 2–8 mm broad. The prothallus produces gametes by means of:
** [[Antheridium|Antheridia]]: Small spherical structures that produce [[flagellum|flagellate]] antherozoids.<ref name=":0" />
** [[Archegonium|Archegonia]]: A flask-shaped structure that produces a single egg at the bottom, reached by the male gametophyte by swimming down the neck.<ref name=":0" />
* [[Rhizoid]]s: [[root]]-like structures (not true roots) that consist of single greatly elongated cells, that absorb water and mineral [[salts]] over the whole structure. Rhizoids anchor the prothallus to the soil.<ref name=":0" />