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Phylum Pterophyta (or Pteridophyta or Filicinophyta) -- ferns or "true ferns" Pterophyta is an enormous phylum with dozens of genera in Texas. Although most ferns are homosporous, there are a few heterosporous genera and these heterosporous genera are well represented in central Texas. Central Texas' heterosporous genera of Pterophyta include Marselia, Azolla, and Salvinia. Fern gametophytes provide students with an excellent opportunity to observe living egg and sperm cells of plants. Most gametophytes, when kept moist, will produce large numbers of gametangia (sex organs) which can be seen easily with a light microscope.

Ferns are often early successional ("pioneer") organisms. This population is growing in a recent lava flow.

Female fern gametophyte with young sporophyte, 40x

Female fern gametophyte with young sporophyte, 100x

Fern, gametophyte with antheridia, 100x

Fern, gametophyte with antheridia, 400x

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