Both the sporophyte and gametophyte generations are free-living. The gametophyte stage is greatly reduced, although not to the extent of the moss gametophyte. Reproduction is by homosporous spores rather than seeds.
Ferns rely on rhizomes , rather than true roots, for support.
Photosynthetic haploid gametophytes evolve from the germinating spore. Also located ventrally are male antheridia within which sperm develop and mature, and female archegonia within which eggs develop and mature. Rain induces swelling in the antheridia, causing them to burst and release multiflagellated sperm that are transported via water droplets to the egg. Fertilization results in a diploid zygote that matures into an adult sporophyte consisting of a rosette of leafy fronds. This is the plant one usually recognizes as a fern.