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    • Sporangium – reproductive structures on underside of fern fronds
    Rights: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Published 29 March 2015 Size: 27 KB Referencing Hub media

    The reproductive1 structures on the underside of the frond2. Each sporangium3 is a capsule that contains spores4. They are usually aggregated into clusters called sori5. The position and arrangement of the sporangia6 are very important for the identification of ferns. Fronds that have sporangia on their underside are fertile, and those that don't are sterile7.

    Image acknowledgement: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

    1. reproductive system: The system in an organism that aids in the production of new individuals.
    2. frond: The leaf of a fern. Fronds range greatly in size and can be undivided or multidivided.
    3. sporangia: The reproductive structures in which spores are produced.
    4. spores: Small reproductive structures that can grow into a new individual. Produced by ferns, fungi, and some algae and protozoans. In bacteria, spores are different – they form in some bacteria in unfavourable conditions, protecting the bacteria from environmental harm.
    5. sori: (Singular: sorus) Clusters of sporangia on the back of a fertile fern frond.
    6. sporangia: The reproductive structures in which spores are produced.
    7. sterile: Free from contaminating organisms, like bacteria or viruses, that may transmit disease.

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    INTERACTIVE

    Underlay of a fern

    Ferns come in a variety of shapes and sizes and this interactive explores the diversity of form in New Zealand ferns. The fern body consists of 3 major parts – the rhizome, the fronds and the ...

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      reproductive system

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      2. The system in an organism that aids in the production of new individuals.

      spores

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      3. Small reproductive structures that can grow into a new individual. Produced by ferns, fungi, and some algae and protozoans. In bacteria, spores are different – they form in some bacteria in unfavourable conditions, protecting the bacteria from environmental harm.

      frond

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      4. The leaf of a fern. Fronds range greatly in size and can be undivided or multidivided.

      sori

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      5. (Singular: sorus) Clusters of sporangia on the back of a fertile fern frond.

      sporangia

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      6. The reproductive structures in which spores are produced.

      sterile

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      7. Free from contaminating organisms, like bacteria or viruses, that may transmit disease.

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