Spore Germination of Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn

Germination of the spores of Ceratopteris thalictroides wasexamined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Spores germinateby scission of the spore coat at the trilete markings. The initialcell divisions produce a proximal prothallial initial with rhizoidsthat are distal and lateral. This represents a reverse orientationof the more common situation in ferns. Evidence is presentedthat rhizoid initials divide with the most lateral of the daughtercells differentiating into a rhizoid. Rhizoids are long andunbranched. The uniseriate protonema is transient with bi-dimensionalgrowth established quite early. About a week following germination,the gametophyte is broad at the basal region and narrow at theanterior region. Further growth of cells in the basal regionis by elongation and the anterior region broadens to producean elongate-ovate gametophyte.