The Prothallium then grows Antheridia or male organs and Archegonia or female organs on its underside. The fertilized egg then begins to grow the Sporophyte, the plant that we know as a fern. Although this is the primary form of propagation there are several other ways that ferns procreate. Apogamy, the production of a sporophyte without fertilization, usually occurs when a gametophyte is grown under dry conditions. Some ferns adapted to life in desert regions use this form of reproduction more frequently than others.
Fern allies procreate in a similar manner to the ferns.
The Lycopodiums have a very similar life cycle, the main difference is that their prothallia normally grow underground gaining nutrients with the help of mycorrhizal fungus. The spermatazoids must swim from the Atheridium of one Prothallium to the Archegonium of another Prothallium. Selaginella and Isoetes, two other fern allies also have differentiated types of spores. There is the female Megaspore, that is much larger then the male Microspore. The Megaspores are able to render more assistance in the growth of the young sporophyte when it arises.