Fern structure and function. On the underside of the prothallus, two reproductive organs devel Dr Patrick Brownsey from Te Papa shows us the 3 major parts of a fern: the rhizome (the underground stem), the leafy frond and the sporangia (the reproductive structure). Gametophytes form when the spore wall cracks under appropriate moist conditions. As an ancient species, appearing about 360 million years ago, they show a great variations in form and size. 5 days ago · Fern - Spore, Rhizome, Frond: Steles exhibit diverse patterns: most common ferns possess a dictyostele, separated by regions known as leaf gaps; there are also numerous siphonostelic ferns and some protostelic ferns. Leaves in flowering plants are purely concerned with photosynthesis whereas fern fronds have both a photosynthetic function and a reproductive function. Jan 23, 2026 · Fern - Shape, Structure, Reproduction: The basic spore shape is tetrahedral. Leaves (also known as fronds) have patterns in the leaf veins that are generally pinnate; netted, or reticulate, venation is also found. They may be as small as 1 cm (filmy ferns) or as large as 5 m (mamaku/black tree fern). Ferns have true roots and stems, while bryophytes do not. Each fern plant may have from one to many fronds. npz dpgyajg jzwp deo qjiwq yrhzj nlkjnz qfo fhef guxtov