Fern Sporophyte Development
After fertilization when the zygote forms, early sporophyte development takes place within the archegonium. Pictures 1 and 2 show this taking place. A mass of sporophytic tissue, the foot, forms within the archegonial chamber (picture 3) and functions in the absorption of nutrients from the gametophyte. As development of the sporophyte progresses, a shoot and root system, capable of supporting the sporophyte is produced (pictures 4 and 5), further development (pictures 6 and 7). While still quite small, the sporophyte becomes and independent-living plant (picture 8). The spent gametophyte soon dies and decomposes.
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