Name: ____________________________ Per: _____
Mosses & Ferns: Station Worksheet
1. Look at the chart of plant phyla (Slide printoff 1). Which of the plant phyla are the most numerous?
2. Which of the bryophyte groups are the most numerous?
3. What is another name for seedless vascular plants?
4. Which plant phyla is the least numerous?
5. What are 4 features or characteristics that mosses and ferns share?
a.
b.
c.
d.
6. What are the 2 main differences between mosses and ferns (hint: structural and reproductive)?
a.
b.
MOSSES (BRYOPHYTES)
7. Label the key terms on the moss life cycle diagram below (refer to figure 19.7 on page 423). Color
the arrows for the haploid and diploid stages.
Key terms
Meiosis
Fertilization
Gametophytes
Egg (n)
Sperm (n)
Zygote (2n)
Sporophyte
 Alternation of Generations
8. Look at the moss samples on display. What visual observations do you see? Touch them. What do
they feel like?
Name: ____________________________ Per: _____
9. Refer to the reproductive pictures for mosses (Slide 2 print off). Moss plants have separate male and
female gametophytes.
a. Female reproduction. Eggs are produced in the _________________________.
b. Male reproduction. Sperm are produced in the _________________________.
10. Moss sporophytes produce spores (refer to slide printoff 3). The sporangium is a capsule at the end
of a reproductive stalk. The capsule when opened contains teeth like structures called peristome,
which aid in spore dispersal. Label the key terms on the picture below
Key terms
Sporophyte
Gametophyte
Sporangia(ium)
FERNS
11. Label the key terms on the fern life cycle diagram below (refer to figure 19.10 on page 428). Color
the arrows for the haploid and diploid stages.
Key terms
Meiosis
Fertilization
Gametophyte
Egg (n)
Sperm (n)
Zygote (2n)
Sporophyte
12. Look at the fern plant on display.
a. Are the fronds of ferns haploid (n) or diploid (2n)? _________________.
b. Check the underside of the fern fronds for sori, which are clusters of ________________.
c. Draw a picture of the sori (sorus). See Silde printoff 4.
13. Define the following. Indicate which represents the sporophyte and gametophyte generations.
a. Haploid:
b. Diploid: