Leptosporangiate fern

A fern whose sporangium develops from a single initial cell and typically has a thin wall and a stalk. Most living fern species belong to this group.

Sporangium: A structure in which spores are produced and released. Leptosporangiate ferns are defined by the development and structure of their sporangia.
Leptosporangium: A fern sporangium that develops from one initial cell and usually has a stalk and a thin wall. This is the defining reproductive structure named by the group.
Polypodiopsida: The class comprising living ferns and their close fossil relatives. Leptosporangiate ferns make up the dominant living radiation within this class.
Polypodiales: The largest order of living ferns, including many familiar species with sori on fronds. Most familiar leptosporangiate ferns belong to this exceptionally diverse order.
Sorus: A cluster of sporangia, commonly found on the underside of a fern frond. Many leptosporangiate ferns arrange their sporangia in visible sori.
Eusporangium: A sporangium that develops from several initial cells and typically has a thick wall and many spores. Its development contrasts with the single-cell origin of a leptosporangium.
Eusporangiate fern: A fern with sporangia that develop from multiple initial cells and usually have thick walls. This fern group provides the principal developmental contrast to leptosporangiate ferns.
Salviniales: An order of aquatic ferns that includes water ferns and the floating genus Salvinia. Its aquatic members demonstrate the group's adaptation to life on water.
Fern: A vascular plant that reproduces by spores rather than seeds and has a life cycle with a free-living gametophyte. Leptosporangiate ferns form the largest major lineage within ferns.
Fern spore dispersal: The release and transport of fern spores, often aided by air currents. The capsule's opening mechanism launches spores into dispersing air.

Linked from 4 pages